- Mar 7, 2006
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- AFL Club
- Collingwood
A lot of the SA players were at AFL clubs, Kernahan to name probably there best at the time.I think most people realise that the SANFL was a pretty equivalent league to the VFL until around the late 80s (from memory an SA team beat the Vic team in like 92? and was still pretty competitive even until the late 90s when their was a national league anyway).
I dont think its unreasonable to count SANFL flags as the equivalent to VFL flags until that time. Would Port have won them pre 1990 against the Vic teams that wont the VFL flags, probably not but they also might have.
More importantly i dont think anyone is saying that Port has 35 or whatever AFL premierships, if someone is that is an equally silly argument. Consider for a second if the VFL in 1990 went "what well do is keep the vic teams and their history and bring in East Fremantle, Perth, Port and Glenelg to join the comp" then you would have to assume that the VFL, SANFL and WAFL teams would have all retained their heritage and premierships.
As it stands Port is completely unique as the only team to enter the competition after the AFL established itself as a pre existing team in a state league.
I think that uniqueness is really what sets the argument about them apart. When they say the prison bars matters their not making something up to suit an argument, when they say they are proud of their 35 SANFL flags it rings true.
I get the whole they made a new identity and should embrace it, i really do but at the same time, one game a year to wear the jumper they cherish as much as any Collingwood supporter does the black and white, played in SA really doesnt seem like a tough ask to me.