- Mar 4, 2014
- 1,234
- 2,518
- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
Weber played the hand he had back then about as well as he could have. As it was Port and the Commission lost the club vote by a single club. If Weber had not been so bullish about wearing black and white Collingwood probably would have voted for our entry. It was that close.
Even under REH's ideal alternative reality the AFL clubs would vote on any agreement reached between Port and the AFL Commission. Between Port's announcement and the vote does anyone seriously believe the SANFL, like the street poets in Jungleland, would have stood back and let it all be? They would would have lobbied every AFL club offering them 5 times the money Port were going to pay, reduced entry player concessions, unfettered use of Football Park, the support of the majority of the SA football public (with a nod and a wink to possible civil unrest at Port matches ) and the SANFL team would pay its way on all fronts (travel, accommodation etc) and require no aid from the AFL.
The minute it becomes public knowledge it becomes open warfare. Even without a court case the SANFL would have fought as hard and dirty as possible. So many of those AFL clubs were still living beyond their means and at the creditor's door, which way would they have voted? They would have been attracted to money like iron filings to a magnet.
I agree with this. We needed a deal done and dusted, with the first announcement being: Port Adelaide has been granted a license and will be admitted to the AFL in 1991. Without our move, the SANFL would have delayed to the extent possible, however the AFL's preference would have always been a composite side and the SANFL would have entered eventually. We lit the fire-cracker under their *****.
But we can't change the past, we can only agitate for change in the present to improve our future. The first step is towards a stadium deal that will keep us strong even when crowds drop off. All of this public focus on what the clubs are making (or not making) can only be a good thing. If we don't get as close to what we want (appreciating you'll never get everything) what we want, then we continue to only agree to short term agreements with further review. The AFL still needs 2 teams in SA, the SMA needs games played at AO - there is no need to commit to outrageous terms IMO.