Club History Before the Crows, there was the Redlegs

[Ray Nolan]

What you need to understand about Norwood is that they have no stones when push comes to shove.

Talk a big game, did all the behind the scenes talk to the join the VFL in the mid-80's but when they had the chance in 1990 to join us to go to the AFL, as usual, they squibbed it.

Now they proclaim to all and sundry that they stayed loyal to South Australia and the SANFL and Port were treacherous, etc, etc. Yet they were the ones talking to the VFL behind everyone's backs before we had even done so.

To my mind, Norwood are still our real rival, they are at least a genuine Football Club, unlike the Crows. However they settled for playing in front 2,000 people in the SANFL each week rather than taking the rivalry to the national stage. Just so they wouldn't get the shitcanning we got for trying to go in 1990.

It was all about keeping their heads above the fray, to show that they were better than treacherous Port. I've lived in the Norwood district for 10 years, they still cling to this belief that they were right not to back us in 1990 just so they wouldn't get dragged into the mud with us.

Therein lies the difference, we were prepared to take all the slings and arrows that came our way, change our guernsey, nickname, add colours, etc, whatever it took to see us take our rightful place in the national competition. Norwood could have, and should have done the same, but they had no balls to do so.

I still remember them carrying on after beating us at the 2014 SANFL GF, how they were rapt at having 20,000 supporters there, etc. Yet, they're so thick they failed to realise that that is as good as it will ever get for them, and was also an indicator that if they'd had the balls the potential was there for them to be an AFL club.

Oh well, never mind, we just sit back and laugh as they contort themselves over what to do when Norwood play their beloved Crows' reserves team.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

This is something I don't understand. Clubs didn't want Port to enter VFL, but accepted Crows.

In practice, the result for the SANFL clubs would be the same, whether Adelaide or Port joined VFL: SANFL would become secondary in its own market. By creating a new club from scratch, SANFL teams actually ended up closing the door for them to join the league.

Port eventually got in, but now no other can! Is that right?!

That is the fundamental jealousy I talked about.

They had a we want to protect our patch, we don't want to go into the national competition because our revenue streams will be reduced and we will become less relevant. Classic protectionist type economics. The SANFL at the start of the 2nd year of VFL expansion set up a Player Retention Scheme - had lotteries, sponsorship etc, and the monies in that fund would be used to pay players who didn't go and play in the national competition - it would be over and above what the payments to the player by his club.

But when Port said they wanted to go in, they said you bastards aren't going to get any benefit of being on a national stage and they woke up to economic reality that people ( in large numbers) want to watch the best, not the second best. They had the experience from Western Australia where they saw the WAFL crowds dwindle as West Coast entered the competition in 1987 and then started to win and make finals. The basic profitable footy economics in WA shifted from the WAFL clubs to the West Coast Eagles. They knew the same would happen in SA with whoever got into the national competition. They wanted a share of it via a SANFL composite team, because they knew they would see very little of it if Port got in first.

In the end, as Deep Throat told Woodward and Bernstein - follow the money. Its always about the money.

 

[tribey]

An article by Rucci from our predicted demise back in 2012 when the SNAFL were bleeding us dry.

It's bye bye Port Adelaide

"GREG Boulton stood before the masses on the second floor of the RB Quinn grandstand at Alberton and loudly declared: "There will be a Port Adelaide Football Club forever."

It was December 1994. He had earlier been at Football Park to hear SANFL president Max Basheer announce Port Adelaide had won the tender for the second Adelaide-based, SANFL-controlled AFL licence.

Norwood Football Club president Nerio Ferraro was reaching for a Penfold's Bin 28 as the Redlegs and its adopted cousins from Sturt counted the bill from their failed attempt to beat Port Adelaide to the AFL. He said: "Forever is a long time ...."

Now we've gt 58,000 members and Norwood have 3,000

• Port Adelaide before SANFL governance: 34 premierships, undisputed hegemon, big enough to promote to the AFL as the only existing non-Victorian club to do so.

• Port Adelaide during SANFL governance: flatlining, "tarps", "Tasmania", first club to finish 16th in a 17-team competition.

• Port Adelaide after SANFL governance: bumper crowds, profitable, forging new markets domestic and international, always competitive at a bare minimum.

It's almost as if the SANFL had no f***ing business meddling in our affairs.

 

[Steve Dore]

GremioPower, further to RussellEbertHandball's post above of the splitting and reunification of the PAFC, this post from 2006 (how time flies), also by RussellEbertHandball contains a fact sheet that the club put out to dispel some of the common myths put about relating to the initial splitting of the club.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

GremioPower, further to RussellEbertHandball's post above of the splitting and reunification of the PAFC, this post from 2006 (how time flies), also by RussellEbertHandball contains a fact sheet that the club put our to dispel some of the common myths put about relating to the initial splitting of the club.

That was one of the 100 links I mentioned I have to GremioPower .

 

[manureid]

Why yes...

I have said it before, and will say it again. Probably the most ambitious 'ZERO' at the front of a number in history.

 

[Lockhart Road]

WHEREFORE ART THOU, OUR ONCE WORTHY OPPOSITION....?

It has been a massive conspiracy plotted well in advance, beginning from the Japanese surrender to MacArthur in Tokyo Bay in 1945.
Released from his military duties a superhero appeared by the name of Big Bob McLean, who came from Norwood district, had been lead ruckman for the Redlegs before switching to Port Adelaide and when the SANFL resumed hostilities post-war became the General MacArthur of Alberton district.
Big Bob got his own business going, became secretary then general manager of PAFC, and poached a black-mopped crazy ball-getting rover called Foster N. Williams from West Adelaide, made him captain coach and oversaw Fos Williams' rise to greatness in the fifties with an invisible sawn-off shotgun tucked under his (McLean's) arm.
Fos led Port Adelaide to premiership victories in 1951 and 1954 to 1958 inclusive (these six flags were taken from Norwood twice, West Adelaide thrice and North Adelaide once). Fos's protege Geof Motley led the club to six-in-a-row in 1959 (vs West), then Fos took the role of non-playing coach and won flags in 1962 (vs North), 1963 (vs West) and 1965 (vs Sturt). This totals ten flags in fifteen years, punctuated by two losing grand finals in 1953 and 1964.
At this point talent scouts from the VFL were making undercover approaches to Alberton to poach our best players. They all left with a plug of invisible buckshot up their arse care of Big Bob's invisible shotgun.
From this era has grown - on top of the more intermittent successes of the Bob Quinn, Bull Reval, Shine Hosking, Harold Oliver era between the wars - the Armoured Aura of Invincibility with which PAFC, as the Magpies, juggernauted thru the SANFL up to Big Bob's death in 1989 ... when SA football bureaucrats, leading inferior clubs and dreaming of cobbling together an SA Superclub with not a skerrick of its own history that would displace PAFC from the face of the earth, suddenly discovered enough vacant space for an undeserving few years in the sun.

In 1994, but, the sun rose again over Alberton, as it invariably had done since 1870. Our inevitable national licence was won - the first and only fully pre-existing club to do so on its own merits.
The AFL version of Port Adelaide Football Club, the Power, ran on the West Lakes turf in round 4, 1997 to thump the imaginary superpower club called the Crows created by magic wands dripping with bitter venom of failure-crafted SANFL officialdom.
Big Bob McLean looked down from the Footy Ground in the Sky above Alberton Oval and gave a gigantic belly laugh. The Crows mob thought a thunderstorm was breaking, and ran for cover like losers do.
But it was just Big Bob farting gloriously into the future.

Now this grand conspiracy that rose from Tokyo Bay in 1945 was not completed. Eventually, another Redleg was directed to enter the portals of the Port Club by malevolent SANFL string-pullers and wreak some more imported (black) magic. His name was and still is Casual Keith Thomas, and the magic he decided to wreak was black, white, teal blue and silver.
Sir Casual, shortly after arrival heard a clap of thunder emanating from somewhere above Alberton Oval and a god-like growl that he was sure kept repeating the same word over and over .... CHINA !

Over the next couple of years, two disciples appeared at Alberton, their journeys originating from the direction of Norwood. The second disciple's name is Sir Andrew Hunter. He played volleyball for Norwood, led volleyball tours abroad, and played pro volleyball in Europe for several years. He is multilingual and is today the bright-eyed face of the PAFC China Strategy. Don't forget ... he originated from Norwood where he had been spotted by Sir Casual who himself emanated from Norwood.

By then had also cometh the first, older, more weather-beaten disciple.
This disciple appeared, though, from the north. From China, in fact. This disciple had been born in North Adelaide, had grown up in East Adelaide and had matriculated from Norwood High School. That's right: NORWOOD High School. Some how or other this disciple had taken the high road, had ended up in China where he had been awaiting his calling from the Port Adelaide Football Club.
That happened in 2013, via the thunder and lightning of Big Bob McLean and the winners' era example he had set until the day he died. That may have been how it happened, I think.

This second disciple now sits on the top of his mountain in China, looking down, spotting friends and foes alike, giving the former a wave and directions to the Pro Drinkers' Corner in Happy Valley; giving the latter a blast from the invisible sawn-off shotgun he inherited from Big Bob McLean with orders not to be shy to pull the trigger.

So GremioPower here you have the answer to your question. What happened to that opposition team called the Redlegs, to the opposition SA club called Norwood?
Well, as this fable tells you - and it's a fable based on fact as I sit here on my China mountain and remember those facts one by one and connect the dots - the Norwood Redlegs disappeared. They simply, virtually, disappeared.

Essential Spirits, one after the other, left them in favour of the opposition club and district on the other side of town, where they all prospered together. A vision, had these ex-Norwood spirits. A long-range view of the future, had these ex-Norwood spirits.
Now look back, towards the Norwood Parade, towards Norwood Oval, towards the shabby grandstands and club rooms of the Norwood Football Club. Wouldn't you agree it all looks the same as it did back in 1947 when Bob Quinn played there for the last time, and when Big Bob McLean quit the locale to do Bigger Bob stuff in the land of the Port, in the land of the future.
Thanks for your keen interest in our great Club's history, and its destiny, GremioPower
You see, we have a history, and it's one that is richer in fables, superheroes and magic than any other.

By the way, there is a fifth spirit, as yet unmentioned, still to be located in Norwood, just off the Parade, in a sreet next to Norwood Oval. This spirit is using legal means, just like those desperate inventors of the Crows in 1990, to block the rebuilding of the Norwood Football Club Rooms etc.
Methinks, if you check this fifth spirit out, you will sense the strings rising above him into the clouds of black white and silver and the gaps of teal blue, and you will hear the rumbling laughter of Big Bob McLean, laughing his longest, last belly laugh.

 

[Killer Power]

Certified Legendary Thread

 

[Lagooner]

I'd say the maximum number of teams the AFL will ever have is 22.

Norwood zero chance to be one of those four.

My guesses are
- Tasmania
- NT
- NSW 3 & 4
- Far North Queensland
- ACT


There is no way Norwood offers more to the AFL than those prospects.

I reckon WA3 over a third team from NSW or QLD. But either way we'll see the Uraguaiana Power Goannas in the AFL before we see Norwood!

 

[chiwigi]

This is something I don't understand. Clubs didn't want Port to enter VFL, but accepted Crows.

In practice, the result for the SANFL clubs would be the same, whether Adelaide or Port joined VFL: SANFL would become secondary in its own market. By creating a new club from scratch, SANFL teams actually ended up closing the door for them to join the league.

Port eventually got in, but now no other can! Is that right?!

You have hit on why we have nothing but disdain for their 'traitors' argument.
It was jealousy pure and simple.

 

[Andre]

Daughter: so why do we hate the crows so much if they're south australian too
Me: *lists reasons cited above*
Daughter: what is a Norwood

I was trying to explain to eldest why we sing Never Tear Us Apart. Explaining that the SNAFL wanted to destroy us because of our success, even though it'd cost them, got me the 'WTF? That makes no sense' look. At 11 he's past the nonsense explanations can be put forward stage.

GremioPower when it comes to SA footy, there's a large contingent whose first thought is 'can this hurt Port', rather than 'will this help my club'.

It's why we Port fans in general hate the local league we were a founding club of. And we are stuck with a local rival in the Crows who should be a strong rival on-field, but an ally off-field, to maximise the gains for both SA clubs. Instead helping hands and gestures are spat on and any initiative of ours (such as China), that has nothing to do with them, they'll try and sabotage out of fear (rather than trying to match or better).

It's a state (figuratively and literally), that's forged the long term Port supporter into a hardened person who won't take any football related crap from anyone.

 

[tribey]

I reckon WA3 over a third team from NSW or QLD. But either way we'll see the Uraguaiana Power Goannas in the AFL before we see Norwood!

It's weird, the SANFL's decision to go balls deep on South Australiana - city name, state colours, derivative of the state team moniker - was a direct symptom of the WA public's tepid response to the rather more generic West Coast Eagles, whose crowds in the early years were comparatively rubbish.

Now, it's exactly that genericism that gave Freo a serious toehold amongst their football-mad population and, depending on feasibility, could potentially see a third franchise over there. You're not just expected to naturally support West Coast because you're a Western Australian.

Here, the defacto state team attracted instant default support along those partisan lines and by the time it was Port's turn - shorn of its mascot, guernsey and even some of its own supporters - it was always pushing shit uphill from that standpoint.

The SANFL eh? Visionless as ever.

 

[Magpiespower]

It's almost as if the SANFL had no f***ing business meddling in our affairs.

35,000 fans storm the gates at Footy Park for a meaningless 1990 pre-season scratch match between the reigning SANFL premier and VFL runner-up and the SA football establishment be like:

"How peculiar."

Then they went straight back to their sherries and plans for the mid-season All-Stars extravaganza that would undoubtedly make those arrogant Victorians eat Crow after they canned State-of-Origin out of spite because the Free Settlers refused to join their expanded "national" comp on principle...

 

[Lagooner]

It's weird, the SANFL's decision to go balls deep on South Australiana - city name, state colours, derivative of the state team moniker - was a direct symptom of the WA public's tepid response to the rather more generic West Coast Eagles, whose crowds in the early years were comparatively rubbish.

Now, it's exactly that genericism that gave Freo a serious toehold amongst their football-mad population and, depending on feasibility, could potentially see a third franchise over there. You're not just expected to naturally support West Coast because you're a Western Australian.

Here, the defacto state team attracted instant default support along those partisan lines and by the time it was Port's turn - shorn of its mascot, guernsey and even some of its own supporters - it was always pushing shit uphill from that standpoint.

The SANFL eh? Visionless as ever.

Yeah I dunno, "West Coast" seems like a pretty broad moniker to me and I suspect more West Australiana would've crept in had the colours and mascot not been spoken for by Richmond and Sydney respectively.

 

[raptalia]

I think the original questions have been answered and the less time spent on Norwood the better.

 

[tribey]

Yeah I dunno, "West Coast" seems like a pretty broad moniker to me and I suspect more West Australiana would've crept in had the colours and mascot not been spoken for by Richmond and Sydney respectively.

Tennis Confetti (dhoarrr got him!) recalls that he heard the name and got a severe case of the WTF's. "West Coast? What's that?!" and was adamant they should've just gone with Perth, the WAFL Demons be damned.

 

[TeeKray]

WCE weren't a brain child of the WAFC though. They were originally a publicly listed company (Indian Pacific Ltd) which was then bought out by the WAFC a few years later. I suspect if they were a WAFC team from scratch there may have been a more concerted effort to brand them as a state team, but it's hard to know for sure.

 

[tribey]

You have hit on why we have nothing but disdain for their 'traitors' argument.
It was jealousy pure and simple.

And traitorous to what? I can understand the delusion of SANFL strength and pride at the time, but even with the benefit of decades of hindsight you have numpties playing that card.

The league and its clubs were on life support and it was only going to get worse as the move to professionalism continued and the SANFL TV rights - the bedrock of any professional league's viability - were worth 2 interpeak multitrips and a Magic Mountain token.

 

[Lagooner]

Tennis Confetti (dhoarrr got him!) recalls that he heard the name and got a severe case of the WTF's. "West Coast? What's that?!" and was adamant they should've just gone with Perth, the WAFL Demons be damned.

He's not alone.

Dockers? Do they mean Doctors?!

Power? But I've just bought this eyepatch!

 

[tribey]

He's not alone.

Dockers? Do they mean Doctors?!

Power? But I've just bought this eyepatch!

Fremantle Hammer and Fremantle Courage were other finalists, to the point where there were logo designs lodged with IP Australia.

FREMANTLE COURAGE!

 

[manureid]

Fremantle Hammer and Fremantle Courage were other finalists, to the point where there were logo designs lodged with IP Australia.

FREMANTLE COURAGE!

Still, reckon they could have worked up a better song out of 'courage' than the marvellous Freo Heave ho ditty.

 

[Lagooner]

Fremantle Hammer and Fremantle Courage were other finalists, to the point where there were logo designs lodged with IP Australia.

FREMANTLE COURAGE!

Seriously who comes up with this shit?!

 

[Lagooner]

Also I'd just like to point out that Norwood has become completely irrelevant to the conversation after only 3 pages, in a dedicated thread about them no less, because we'd rather talk about Freo.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Port Adelaide win AFL licence ahead of Norwood as performed by Scott Hodges interpretive dance team.

 

[Macca19]

Seriously who comes up with this shit?!

View attachment 389396
View attachment 389397

haha first time i've seen that. ****ing hell. CARN THE COURAGE!