I think it's time Port supporters and others had a bit of a think about their illogical hatred of the SANFL.
Lets put $16 million in assistance to one side and look at the grassroots.
Please read this with an open mind and with your love of football uppermost.
If we look at just one player's path from juniors to the AFL from a SANFL club's point of view.
A young 12 year old plays for his school. The West Adelaide people come out to conduct Auskick. The lad progresses to West's Under 13, 14 and 15 Development squads, where he's coached by West coaches, kicks footies paid for by West and the SANFL, wears guernseys paid for by West & the SANFL, with umpires paid by the SANFL and trains and plays on ovals paid for by the SANFL and their clubs.
He then plays for West's Under 17's, ditto expenditure, West's Under 19's, more expenditure, and after years of being looked after by West Adelaide, he plays a few League games, with West paying all the expenses involved. Those expenses are multiplied by the hundreds of kids treated similarly, but it's worth it as West will get a good player for their senior team..
Then there's a day in November when the Port Adelaide Football Club makes its first appearance in this lad's life.
"Player Number 1234567, Hamish Hartlett, West Adelaide.
Here's $25K, West (given to us by the SANFL to prop us up), now piss off, he's our player now.
Fair enough, they're the rules, but West have spent years on him and barely get a game out of him.
That's fine, but if you want to continue to get players that the SANFL have groomed for you, then it's going to cost you a lot of money. About what the SANFL spend, actually.
See how that system works for you when you're putting tarps over seats.
As for Adelaide players, there's stories about so many of our greats and their time at West Adelaide. I've seen them all at close quarters.
Don't denigrate, embrace the SANFL, it's your lifeblood.