The Terrible Thinker
Club Legend
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2024
- Posts
- 1,016
- Reaction score
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- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
Why does Port get 2 to 3 million more per year and 30 more of the last decade more than Crows?
I’m really interested in how this SA situation with the two clubs work because something doesn’t add up…considering the fact that both clubs ultimately have to answer to the AFL commission on all things financial.
A good question for the SANFL to answer between 1997-2014 when they controlled both AFL clubs. The Crows got benefits from the SANFL in having their HQ as Footy Park which Port never got especially being based at Alberton. Plus they had access to a larger membership and sponsorship base.
Port on the other hand were forced by the SANFL to split club in two separate corporate entities from 1997 to 2011 as part of the AFL sub licence agreement. Both entities then had to compete against each other for dwindling members, sponsors & resources. Originally Port only wanted to transition into the AFL and not bother with an SANFL club going forward for this reason. Keep in mind there was no AFL reserves sides in SA, dropped AFL players had to go back to their designated SANFL team to get a run.
The AFL recognized the sh!t sandwich the SANFL was giving Port and decided to step in after 2014. SANFL had the last laugh though by charging us $4M for the sub-licence in 1997, then another $4M for us to transfer control to the in AFL 2014.
After negotiating a better stadium deal in 2015, things started to turn around for the club and we will clear our legacy debt this year.
Do we attribute this success to Koch and Co. Maybe from an commercial point in terms of new sponsorship and opportunities. But Andrew Demetriou & Brett Duncanson ultimately turn around this club from the bin fire it was heading towards in 2012. Along with Tim Giniver & George Fiacchi who merged the separate AFL & SANFL PAFC entities back into one.






