Port Power

[PowerKat]

A mention in another thread....

Im not so sure, I think I heard a board member call us exactly that the other day and then there have been at least two occasions this year when they have played that old song back at the Club after the game. :o


OK I know that this is a bone of contention for many stalwart Port Adelaide fans. Rucci is especially touchy when someone refers to us as 'Port Power'. My question is - is it time to 'get over it'? Many Port supporters get riled when the term is used and there is little doubt some crows supporters use it specifically because they know it rubs us up the wrong way. Commentators & interstate media occasionally use 'Port Power' however it's pretty obvious they know we are 'Port Adelaide'.

The club does not seem all that pedantic about it (supported by blackdiamond's post), apart from reinforcing the point a few years ago (rightly so) that our club name is Port Adelaide Football Club - nickname 'Power'. Anyone would have to admit that 'Port Power' rolls off the tongue easily. I noticed on the DVD received with the membership pack this year actually has 'Port Power' on the cover.

Personally - I don't love it, and won't use it, but I am well past letting it upset me and have reached a point of acceptance when others use it. ;)

[Porthos]

Considering commentators manage to fit every other minor observance in their calls, I don't think its too much to ask that they refer to the club by its name.

[crazy_big_al]

It is always the PAFC in my mind

[cooperjai]

It used to be Port Power and a lot of people got used to that, as I did, and as PowerKat points out it rolls of the tongue easy which is why a lot of kids say it. I coach a few kids who love Port Adelaide, they all say Port Power.
Personally I don't see the big deal a lot of people make of it, who cares, we know who we support. It doesn't make you any less of a supporter because you don't say the correct name.
I used to always say Port Power at the footy and so did others. I never knew people were upset about it until I joined here.

[Ford Fairlane]

It's a convenient shorthand when differentiating between the Port Adelaides - Power and Magpies - in discussion, altho I'll usually just say the Power or the Magpies.

What irks me is when we get called (Kevin Bartlett please note) the Port Power Football Club. Now that's just plain ignorant.

[wharfie_1870]

I tend to use "The Power" or "The Maggies" to differentiate between the PAFC's team and the PAMFC's team.

Hitaf sends Media Notes (http://portadelaidefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=255956) to the media before every game so they don't have to do their own research. This always includes the following;

OUR NAME
Just a reminder, our club name is Port Adelaide and our nickname is Power. At no point should we be referred to as Port Power (a nickname we discarded at the start of 2000). Thanks.

[Toots Hibbert]

It's not hard to say "The Power" or "Port Adelaide". They both roll off the tongue very easily and if that's how the club wishes to be referred to then it's up to professional commentators to get it right in the same way as players have a right to expect their names to be pronounced properly.

As far as the use of the term "Port Power" goes on BigFooty it all depends on the intention behind it. It relates strongly to the history wars which I think have been won by the Port posters.

When I first got here it was common for trolls to bag the club as newcomers and deny the history going back to 1870. Plenty of innocent posters from interstate made the same assumption. Therefore people using the term "Port Power" with the assumption that it was the name of the club would tend to get corrected and that would spark a long and heated thread.

Nowadays you will even find non Port posters explaining the nature of Port's history to those who make such errors intentionally or otherwise. I recently saw a Crows supporter correcting someone on the main board and you often see people posting comments such as "Don't start that again". There's just a general understanding interstate now that Port are not Johnny-come-latelies. The trolls have become marginalised to a large extent on this issue.

Therefore I think it's possible to be more relaxed about this although of course vigilence is still necessary. The use of the signatures with the premiership years helps to reinforce the point on a continuous basis without the need to make any special effort.

[wharfie_1870]

Good post Toots :thumbsu:

[Andre]

I always say I follow 'The Power', 'Port', 'Port Adelaide' or the 'Port Adelaide Football Club'.

I still have some merchandise from 97 with 'Port Power' on it, but I never use the term myself. People saying we are picky when it's used are being tricky at best. When commentators, the media in general and those associated with the AFL start using 'North Kangaroos' and 'West Eagles' then I'll accept that argument. No one bastardises those clubs names/nickname like they do ours.

[cooperjai]

It's a convenient shorthand when differentiating between the Port Adelaides - Power and Magpies - in discussion, altho I'll usually just say the Power or the Magpies.

I'm sure there's quite a few Power supporters who don't support the Magpies, (heaven forbid they may even support centrals) and they have a hard time saying Port Adelaide.:D

[wharfie_1870]

......When commentators, the media in general and those associated with the AFL start using 'North Kangaroos' and 'West Eagles' then I'll accept that argument. No one bastardises those clubs names/nickname like they do ours.You hear commentators refer to "Shinboner spirit" when talking about North Melbourne, aka The Kangaroos but they don't refer to the club as "The Shinboners" very often. This gets back to Toots' point about the way the obsolete nickname is used. In the "Shinboner" case it is seen as a pride thing where as the use of "Port Power" is either pure ignorance or used in a derogatory way.

Crow's posters use "Port Power" a lot for the same reason that I refer to the Camries as "Cows" :)

[Pinepower]

It's a convenient shorthand when differentiating between the Port Adelaides - Power and Magpies - in discussion, altho I'll usually just say the Power or the Magpies.

What irks me is when we get called (Kevin Bartlett please note) the Port Power Football Club. Now that's just plain ignorant.

Me too.

[Powerstufff]

Nothing wrong with the term, it's the intent of the user that counts. It's equally an issue where the Port Adelaide Magpies are referred to inappropriately as Port Adelaide, and there are employees at the SANFL who do this with a deliberate malice.

[Count Zero]

As long as the name is recorded correctly in the official records, I don't really mind what someone on BF or in the paper calls us.

[dreamkillers]

Nothing wrong with the term, it's the intent of the user that counts. It's equally an issue where the Port Adelaide Magpies are referred to inappropriately as Port Adelaide, and there are employees at the SANFL who do this with a deliberate malice.

That's how I see it as well.......

There are a few regulars that continue to use the term even in serious posts but all it does is show the true character of the person posting and the fact they are NOT interested in serious discussions so their posts are NEVER taken seriously either.

As for the SANFL well their website is a great example of how they are prepared to re-write their own history to make themselves look better when in fact all they achieve is put people off of using their website given it contains far too many inaccuracies to be taken seriously.

[wharfie_1870]

.......As for the SANFL well their website is a great example of how they are prepared to re-write their own history to make themselves look better when in fact all they achieve is put people off of using their website given it contains far too many inaccuracies to be taken seriously.As I pointed out in another thread (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5335064&postcount=4) the SANFL, in the AAMI Stadium Members Official Newsletter June 2006, claim that Wanganeen's debut SANFL season was 1989 and he was part of the PAFC premiership side that year. :rolleyes:

[RoosterLad]

Whinge whinge. Whats wrong with saying Port Power?? If you say Port Magpies is that naughty as well?

You lot love to cry about nothing.

[Porthos]

Remember that next time someone refers to the SANFL or North Adelaide as the twos.

[RoosterLad]

Remember that next time someone refers to the SANFL or North Adelaide as the twos.


Haha that is completely different. North Adelaide , Port Adelaide , Norwood etc are not reserves to the AFL.

Port Power is your name.

I know its difficult for someone like you to understand, but i'll help you through this sister.

[Porthos]

Haha that is completely different. North Adelaide , Port Adelaide , Norwood etc are not reserves to the AFL.Sure they are.

[Papa G]

Nothing wrong with the term, it's the intent of the user that counts. It's equally an issue where the Port Adelaide Magpies are referred to inappropriately as Port Adelaide, and there are employees at the SANFL who do this with a deliberate malice.

I don't mind it personally and there are far more worse things we have to put up with in this competition than someone shortening our footy clubs name.

As to the point above, the intent of the user is generally based on our reaction to it. If we treat it as a non issue, then the intent of the user to irritate us is negated.

[Count Zero]

Whinge whinge. Whats wrong with saying Port Power?? If you say Port Magpies is that naughty as well?

You lot love to cry about nothing.
Talk about whingeing. At least we're not going to march up and down Prospect Road about it.

[Toots Hibbert]

Haha that is completely different. North Adelaide , Port Adelaide , Norwood etc are not reserves to the AFL.

Port Power is your name.

I know its difficult for someone like you to understand, but i'll help you through this sister.
You call yourself RoosterLad but I'm telling you you're wrong. I say your name is RoosterMug and if you decide to complain about me calling you that then by your standards you'll be a whinger. What's good for the chicken is good for the rooster. :thumbsu:

BTW when players in our squad are not playing in the AFL side but in the SANFL then they are playing in the two's. :cool:

[wharfie_1870]

.....Port Power is your name.

I know its difficult for someone like you to understand......No it is not our name and has not been since 1999. It is you that seems to have difficulty with this very simple concept. :rolleyes:

........ but then I guess you fit in with those other Cows, aka Fruit Tingle, aka Camries, supporters like Dale ;)

[RoosterLad]

Talk about whingeing. At least we're not going to march up and down Prospect Road about it.


Woah sorry to show a bit of passion about my club.

Why dont you go and beg everybody for $2?

[RoosterLad]

You call yourself RoosterLad but I'm telling you you're wrong. I say your name is RoosterMug and if you decide to complain about me calling you that then by your standards you'll be a whinger. What's good for the chicken is good for the rooster. :thumbsu:

BTW when players in our squad are not playing in the AFL side but in the SANFL then they are playing in the two's. :cool:


Actually i do have a mug with a rooster on it, i use it to drink soup.

[Count Zero]

Woah sorry to show a bit of passion about my club.

Why dont you go and beg everybody for $2?
Don't be sorry. Passion for your club is good. However, one persons whinge is another persons protest march.

[Toots Hibbert]

Woah sorry to show a bit of passion about my club.

Why dont you go and beg everybody for $2?
That's commendable but a reality check is also good. Your club is a feeder club. A place where recruiters go to find candidates for the big league. A place where guys play till they're deemed ready for first team action. If you find being labelled "the two's" offensive you've no right to call people whingers who wish their club to be referred to by it's proper name.

[pafc4life]

Who cares if someone refers to us as Port Power?

[Macca19]

Only time I get annoyed is when people try and use it to tell us that that is what our club is called. It baffles me that every other club gets called by what it actually is eg. Essendon Football Club, Adelaide Football club etc. Our club seems to be the only club where everyone adds our nickname on. I cant believe its to do with our old logo which said 'Port Power' on it considering every clubs logo once upon a time had the club name and nickname on it.

[RogerRabbit69]

I normally refer to your AFL side as "Port" or "the Power". If people say Port Power innocently, then I can't see a huge problem with it. You know they mean the Port Adelaide side that plays in the AFL. It seems sometimes people draw the conclusion that if the term "Port Power" is used, that means there's an inference that it's a new football club, not the PAFC. I assume that's why Port fans don't like the term.

I think some people (eg Rooch), become a touch too precious/pedantic about it, which probably entices anti-Port people to use the term "Port Power" deliberately.

[PAFC2004]

We have been called Port Adelaide longer than 'Port Power'. Our name is nor port power, so why call us that?

[Toots Hibbert]

I normally refer to your AFL side as "Port" or "the Power". If people say Port Power innocently, then I can't see a huge problem with it. You know they mean the Port Adelaide side that plays in the AFL. It seems sometimes people draw the conclusion that if the term "Port Power" is used, that means there's an inference that it's a new football club, not the PAFC. I assume that's why Port fans don't like the term.

I think some people (eg Rooch), become a touch too precious/pedantic about it, which probably entices anti-Port people to use the term "Port Power" deliberately.
As I said earlier on in this thread, it depends on the intention behing the use of the term. It's when it's used deliberately to imply a denial of the team in the AFL being from the same club that has existed since 1870 that people become annoyed.

You may think this is semantics but if you ever see the use of the photo of the Power number plate which is used by trolls to deny the historical facts, take note of whether those posters are using the term "Port Power" or not.

[wharfie_1870]

I normally refer to your AFL side as "Port" or "the Power. If people say Port Power innocently, then I can't see a huge problem with it. You know they mean the Port Adelaide side that plays in the AFL.".What other side (team) do we have other than the AFL side :confused:

It seems sometimes people draw the conclusion that if the term "Port Power" is used, that means there's an inference that it's a new football club, not the PAFC. I assume that's why Port fans don't like the term......That's effectively where I stand on this issue. "Port Power" was only ever a nickname for the team since we couldn't use "Magpies". This caused so much confusion with Victorian centric media commentators who couldn't tell the difference between the team nickname and the club name that the club changed the nickname to simply "Power" prior to the start of the 2000 season. People who still use "Port Power" are either looking for a bite or are simply ignorant.

[RogerRabbit69]

What other side (team) do we have other than the AFL side :confused:.... but there's another Port Adelaide football side. By using the term "Power", you know they are referring to the AFL side, not the SANFL one. If someone said, "I went to see Port Adelaide play on the weekend", it's not certain which club they mean (though most would assume they mean the Power).

I agree your club should be referred to as Port, Port Adelaide or the Power. But I don't think it's an atrocity if the term Port Power is used (innocently). As Toots mentioned, it's the intention that's important.

[twosheds]

I'm sure there's quite a few Power supporters who don't support the Magpies, (heaven forbid they may even support centrals) and they have a hard time saying Port Adelaide.:D

On your first point you're probably right ( I do support Centrals ) on your second point not at all, I know who I'm talking about and if whoever I'm talking to doesn't thats their problem.
NB: Perpetuating sterotypes and making erroneous generalisations are probably rife on sites like this but really don't serve any useful purpose to clear thinking football lovers.

[Powerstufff]

We made two mistakes. It's a lesson for the marketing/branding people, a case study on what not to do.
We thought all supporters of pre AFL Port Adelaide would follow us so firstly we applied the catchy Port Power name to Port Adelaide. Then secondly we created the Port Adelaide Magpies as a tribute to our past. This second action has probably caused us the most problems.
The SANFL made us put a replacement team into the SANFL but I'm unsure how much of our old imagery we were required to use for them. We gave the PAMFC our colours, our emblem, our song and our captain; and then told the world they were a new team. How dumb was that? The SANFL moved them off to Ethelton if I remember right. Had we set up the Ethelton Emus and put them in Hawthorn colours things would be much simpler now. Instead we even lost about 10% of our own supporters who saw them as the originals and the Power as new.
At the same time we pushed the Port Power thing hard, deliberately divorcing ourselves from our SANFL image, in an attempt to pick up supporters who were put off by that.

[Mitch Power]

We made two mistakes. It's a lesson for the marketing/branding people, a case study on what not to do.
We thought all supporters of pre AFL Port Adelaide would follow us so firstly we applied the catchy Port Power name to Port Adelaide. Then secondly we created the Port Adelaide Magpies as a tribute to our past. This second action has probably caused us the most problems.
The SANFL made us put a replacement team into the SANFL but I'm unsure how much of our old imagery we were required to use for them. We gave the PAMFC our colours, our emblem, our song and our captain; and then told the world they were a new team. How dumb was that? The SANFL moved them off to Ethelton if I remember right. Had we set up the Ethelton Emus and put them in Hawthorn colours things would be much simpler now. Instead we even lost about 10% of our own supporters who saw them as the originals and the Power as new.
At the same time we pushed the Port Power thing hard, deliberately divorcing ourselves from our SANFL image, in an attempt to pick up supporters who were put off by that.

Powerstuff, you took the words right out of my mouth particularly your second point. The sooner the PAMFC is scrapped or serves as a true reserves team for the Power, the better. Bucky and Greg erred to allow the PAMFC to be formed as there can be no 2 Port Adelaide Football Clubs.

[portly]

I am a financial member of both the Port Magpies and Port Power.

I can see no logical reason whatsoever for not using the term "Port Power".

My bomber jacket from many years back has "Port Power" written boldly on the back, and I am certainly not going to create a new uniform to make history revisionists happy.

The club should simply come out and say that they were wrong, and "Port Power" is OK.

[Count Zero]

Scrap my beloved Magpies because someone might confuse them with the Power. I think not.

[wharfie_1870]

.... but there's another Port Adelaide football side.......Call me pedantic if you want but there is only one Port Adelaide Football Club side and that side plays in the AFL :)
Sure there are other Aussie Rules teams based in the Port area such as those of the Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club and the Port Districts Football Club.

...By using the term "Power", you know they are referring to the AFL side, not the SANFL one. If someone said, "I went to see Port Adelaide play on the weekend", it's not certain which club they mean (though most would assume they mean the Power)....Yes, using the term "Power" removes any ambiguity but there is no need to use "Port Power".

Maybe people use the term "Port Power" to differentiate the PAFC's team from the Gippsland Power (http://gippslandpower.footballvic.com.au/). :)

[RogerRabbit69]

Call me pedantic if you want but there is only one Port Adelaide Football Club side and that side plays in the AFL :)
Sure there are other Aussie Rules teams based in the Port area such as those of the Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club and the Port Districts Football Club.
I know there's only one Port Adelaide Football Club (that's why I said "side", not football club). There's also another team commonly referred to as "Port Adelaide" - the one that plays in the SANFL.

In reality, most people who follow footy in this state know that the PAFC plays in the AFL, with the nickname the Power. And that the Port Adelaide Magpies play in the SANFL side. But, on the terraces, they're both called Port Adelaide.

[wharfie_1870]

....Bucky and Greg erred to allow the PAMFC to be formed as there can be no 2 Port Adelaide Football Clubs.They had no choice. The SANFL made this a condition of the AFL sub-license.

There used to be a FACT SHEET – From one club to the Power and the Magpies (http://portadelaidefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=66731) on the website which explained this but it has recently been culled.

Both Bucky and Greg were opposed to this but the SANFL wanted a weak club that looked like the PAFC playing in the SANFL and the choice Bucky and Greg faced was to create a new PAMFC and get the AFL sub-license or stick with the one and only true PAFC and continue to play in the SANFL only.

Bucky and Greg would have agreed to the PAFC maintaining a side in the SANFL but the SANFL did not want this side having any advantage from being linked to an AFL side. This is why the new PAMFC were banished to Ethelton and their share of the revenue from the Port Club was greatly restricted.

So don't blame Bucky and Greg, blame the SANFL.

[Powerstufff]

Scrap my beloved Magpies because someone might confuse them with the Power. I think not.How would you have felt if our planned move into the AFL had happened in 1997 where we simply rebadged as the Power and no PAMFC had been set up?
In asking this I should say I'm a member of both clubs and make it to 2 or 3 PAMFC games a year. People from this site have seen me there in my Maggies scarf.

[Count Zero]

How would you have felt if our planned move into the AFL had happened in 1997 where we simply rebadged as the Power and no PAMFC had been set up?
In asking this I should say I'm a member of both clubs and make it to 2 or 3 PAMFC games a year. People from this site have seen me there in my Maggies scarf.
I would have been very very disappointed. The ability to go each week to see the Black and White Magpies is a deeply ingrained part of my life. It offers me a sense of security and continuity. I know that this is the same for others. There are plenty of Magpie fans who do not go to the Power games for one reason or another, usually money.
The SANFL offers me an alternative, and in many ways superior, football experience. I park where I like, sit where I like, I can go and listen to the coach. The players are accessible. Families can go and have a kick at the breaks. The umpires are not as ticky touchwood. I can sink a few cold ones while watching the game.
The lawyers can argue the legal definitions until the cows come home, but to me and the people I interact with at the games, there is no confusion. The Magpies and the Power are just different branches of the same tree.

[Magpiespower]

Power, Magpies, Muholians, Magentas, C*ckledivers...

I just call them Port.

[Andre]

How would you have felt if our planned move into the AFL had happened in 1997 where we simply rebadged as the Power and no PAMFC had been set up?
In asking this I should say I'm a member of both clubs and make it to 2 or 3 PAMFC games a year. People from this site have seen me there in my Maggies scarf.
I'd have been happier then I am now. We'd have no split support base or historical revisionists at work every time we say we've been around longer then since 1997.

Still I blame the SANFL. I can see they didn't want a Magpies in the SANFL with all the advantages, but I think it could have been done within maintaining the one club, but ensuring the each team has seperate books and accounts, with restrictions on Port club revenue to the Magpies teams accounts. I'd then still feel the same Port still played in the SANFL as well as the AFL.

[Mitch Power]

They had no choice. The SANFL made this a condition of the AFL sub-license.

There used to be a FACT SHEET – From one club to the Power and the Magpies (http://portadelaidefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=66731) on the website which explained this but it has recently been culled.

Both Bucky and Greg were opposed to this but the SANFL wanted a weak club that looked like the PAFC playing in the SANFL and the choice Bucky and Greg faced was to create a new PAMFC and get the AFL sub-license or stick with the one and only true PAFC and continue to play in the SANFL only.

Bucky and Greg would have agreed to the PAFC maintaining a side in the SANFL but the SANFL did not want this side having any advantage from being linked to an AFL side. This is why the new PAMFC were banished to Ethelton and their share of the revenue from the Port Club was greatly restricted.

So don't blame Bucky and Greg, blame the SANFL.

wharfie you are right - I have erred in blaming Greg and Bucky as they did a fantastic job to get Port in the AFL. Looks like the SANFL got what they wanted.

[1Charlie]

The reason I dont like the term Port Power, is that opposition supporters use it in a derogatory fashion. Port Adelaide Power. the w@nkers calls us by the acronym. And they call us feral.
And plus we have decided to change/ alter the name, but some media purposely still make an effort to call us by the old name. They need to show some respect.

[Schlez]

I couldnt care less about Port Adelaide beingcalled Port Power. And as far as oppostion supporters calling us Port Power in a derogatory manner, so what? Like we don:t have derogatory names for them?

[Powerstufff]

Something I was just reminded of the other day is that the Footy Express buses going to our games say 'Port Power' on the destination boards.
I guess it's obvious that they can't say 'Port Adelaide' or there is bound to be the occasional person who would hop on thinking they were going down to the Port.

[blackdiamond]

They could say PA Power which I think would be appropriate.