Toast #BringBackTheBars - Our Heritage, Our History, Our Right! Part 1

[bomberclifford]

Whilst I don't really like the blue and white hoops guernsey, it makes more sense to wear that on the 150th anniversary of our first game than it does to wear the prism bars.

Prison bars weren't a part of the first game 149 years ago so wearing them on that day next year is really just a fan desire and doesn't really make any sense.

Not against wearing prison bars in showdowns from 2020 onwards though, I reckon that would be a great way to continually recognise what led to us to join the AFL, seeing how so many flags were won wearing it.

Ultimately though, our current guernsey should not be dismissed and should remain our primary one. I believe it's the best in the comp right now and is a part of who we are.
People need to realise and accept that we ain't gonna wear the prison bars as our primary guernsey in AFL ever again.

The celebration is about the entire 150 years history, not just one point 150 years ago.

If there was no contention about the PB guernsey, then wearing this original guernsey would be no problem, however the fact that we are being told we can't wear our most famous guernsey, by another club, means that wearing the 'hoops' will represent capitulation. Right now, with recent trashing of club traditions, it would be a very poor decision by the club to do this. Besides, won't Geelong have something to say about it?

There also seems to be a push by the club for us to ignore the massive elephant in the room; why are we not allowed to wear a guernsey of our own choosing and why is one of our competitor clubs given the right to dictate to us?

Our Heritage.
Our History.
Our Right.

#bringbackthebars

 

[PA88]

Whilst I don't really like the blue and white hoops guernsey, it makes more sense to wear that on the 150th anniversary of our first game than it does to wear the prism bars.

Prison bars weren't a part of the first game 149 years ago so wearing them on that day next year is really just a fan desire and doesn't really make any sense.

Not against wearing prison bars in showdowns from 2020 onwards though, I reckon that would be a great way to continually recognise what led to us to join the AFL, seeing how so many flags were won wearing it.

Ultimately though, our current guernsey should not be dismissed and should remain our primary one. I believe it's the best in the comp right now and is a part of who we are.
People need to realise and accept that we ain't gonna wear the prison bars as our primary guernsey in AFL ever again.

The BiB jumper is a good jumper but is certainly the jumper we've worn throughout our longest era of failure, so a part of us it is.

We are celebrating 150 years and not only the 1st year.

It doesn't matter if the BiB is the best jumper in the AFL, the WP is as good and means a lot more.

Hypothetically if the AFL gave us an ultimatum and told us to make a 'forever' decision on which jumper we want primarily once and for all, I would opt for the WP and run.

 

[Interstater]

Like everyone else here, I've been giving this a lot of thought.
In particular I've been considering our transition over time.

I accept that while the prisonbars defines my time watching Port Adelaide, that isn't a fair representation of 150 years of history, its just a representation of my 55 year experience with it. Basically, the 5 jumpers to the right are what I have grown up with.

I think that in 2020, we must make an attempt to celebrate our entire history, from jumper #1 to jumper #18, but as a club we must take this one step further and the club must allow all paid up 2019 members to vote on jumper #19.



The Vote has to be a key part of the 2020 celebrations, because Past, Present and Future have always been considered together by this great club.

Our slogan for 2020 can only be one thing, the one I had on a circular sticker on the back window of my Datsun 180B back in the 1980's:

Proud of the Past Confident of the future.

As such, I would like to club to nominate the following jumper as one of the options as jumper #19

Why:

I love the prisonbars - to me if its not the prisonbars its not Port Adelaide.

I equally love the white trims on the sleeves and the neckline, to me those white trims are sacrosanct, they give the jumper its strength. They remind me of 1976 sitting inside the fence and that loss. They then remind me of 1977 and our redemption.

I was looking at the videos posted above and I can accept that the piers themselves are not always in full sun, the grey on them can be as representative as the white. That would be a fair compromise that acknowledges that there is a Collingwood in the AFL as we enter it, and although McAllister made a certain agreement, I am prepared to honour that black and white stripes are an important part of the CFC's brand.

I can see this both as a compromise, but also as an evolution.

Unlike the Machiavellian comments from over the border, I can accept that our jumper has evolved over time, and while I am as passionate as anyone about the prison bars that I watched when I stood as a 5 year old on the hill at Alberton watching footy with my father and uncle, watching my heroes like Bruce Light, Russell Ebert and Brian Cunningham, I accept that time moves on.

I want jumper #19 to remind me of that 5 year old kid, but I want us to kick arse in it with new heroes, my daughters heroes and one day her children's heroes.

I am not asking, I am absolutely pleading that we the people that have stood on that hill get to make the final decision on jumper #19 as a part of the 2020 honouring of the history of this club.

My grandfather's jockeys wore the prisonbar jumper at the Adelaide trots.
It was before my time but my family have photos of the races that my grandfathers horses won, with the jockeys always wearing the prison bars.

This is not just a part of my history, this is my bloody history.
The prison bar jumper is an integral part of four generations of my family (and possibly more).

Its time for our history to be respected and to evolve, not to be destroyed.

Proud of the Past, Confident of the Future.

 

[1954]

Like everyone else here, I've been giving this a lot of thought.
In particular I've been considering our transition over time.

I accept that while the prisonbars defines my time watching Port Adelaide, that isn't a fair representation of 150 years of history, its just a representation of my 55 year experience with it. Basically, the 5 jumpers to the right are what I have grown up with.

I think that in 2020, we must make an attempt to celebrate our entire history, from jumper #1 to jumper #18, but as a club we must take this one step further and the club must allow all paid up 2019 members to vote on jumper #19.

View attachment 674687

The Vote has to be a key part of the 2020 celebrations, because Past, Present and Future have always been considered together by this great club.

Our slogan for 2020 can only be one thing, the one I had on a circular sticker on the back window of my Datsun 180B back in the 1980's:

Proud of the Past Confident of the future.

As such, I would like to club to nominate the following jumper as one of the options as jumper #19

Why:

I love the prisonbars - to me if its not the prisonbars its not Port Adelaide.

I equally love the white trims on the sleeves and the neckline, to me those white trims are sacrosanct, they give the jumper its strength. They remind me of 1976 sitting inside the fence and that loss. They then remind me of 1977 and our redemption.

I was looking at the videos posted above and I can accept that the piers themselves are not always in full sun, the grey on them can be as representative as the white. That would be a fair compromise that acknowledges that there is a Collingwood in the AFL as we enter it, and although McAllister made a certain agreement, I am prepared to honour that black and white stripes are an important part of the CFC's brand.

I can see this both as a compromise, but also as an evolution.

Unlike the Machiavellian comments from over the border, I can accept that our jumper has evolved over time, and while I am as passionate as anyone about the prison bars that I watched when I stood as a 5 year old on the hill at Alberton watching footy with my father and uncle, watching my heroes like Bruce Light, Russell Ebert and Brian Cunningham, I accept that time moves on.

I want jumper #19 to remind me of that 5 year old kid, but I want us to kick arse in it with new heroes, my daughters heroes and one day her children's heroes.

I am not asking, I am absolutely pleading that we the people that have stood on that hill get to make the final decision on jumper #19 as a part of the 2020 honouring of the history of this club.

My grandfather's jockeys wore the prisonbar jumper at the Adelaide trots.
It was before my time but my family have photos of the races that my grandfathers horses won, with the jockeys always wearing the prison bars.
This is not just a part of my history, this is my bloody history.

Its time for our history to be respected and to evolve, not to be destroyed.

Proud of the Past, Confident of the Future.


View attachment 674691

I remember pacers with the drivers wearing the PB's at Wayville in the early 1960's, one of the horses was named Fos, I assume that was one of your grandfather's horses.
I have often wondered what happened to those silks, have they been deregistered or are they still owned by your family?

 

[elpirate]

The celebration is about the entire 150 years history, not just one point 150 years ago.

If there was no contention about the PB guernsey, then wearing this original guernsey would be no problem, however the fact that we are being told we can't wear our most famous guernsey, by another club, means that wearing the 'hoops' will represent capitulation. Right now, with recent trashing of club traditions, it would be a very poor decision by the club to do this. Besides, won't Geelong have something to say about it?

There also seems to be a push by the club for us to ignore the massive elephant in the room; why are we not allowed to wear a guernsey of our own choosing and why is one of our competitor clubs given the right to dictate to us?

Our Heritage.
Our History.
Our Right.

#bringbackthebars

The BiB jumper is a good jumper but is certainly the jumper we've worn throughout our longest era of failure, so a part of us it is.

We are celebrating 150 years and not only the 1st year.

It doesn't matter if the BiB is the best jumper in the AFL, the WP is as good and means a lot more.

Hypothetically if the AFL gave us an ultimatum and told us to make a 'forever' decision on which jumper we want primarily once and for all, I would opt for the WP and run.

The planned celebration game is wanted the be played on the same day we played our first game.

Hence the blue hoops making sense.

For the record though, I strongly dislike this guernsey!

Celebrating throughout the year, as well as acknowledging our heritage ongoing is also paramount and wearing the PB's in showdowns caters for this IMO.

Wearing prison bars every game, or for the 150th celebration game next year, will not fix our current issues, not will it help us long term.

This argument seems to come up strongly whenever we are going badly or not living up the "Port Adelaide of old" results.

Some people simply need to move on and accept who we are now.

We aren't winning this war, but can win a few battles.

 

[Andre]

I don't mind wearing the Blue and White the once on the anniversary of the 150th, IF AND ONLY IF we are wearing the PB's next year and subsequent years. It can not be a substitute next year or going forward, no matter how much the club will go all in on building it up whilst PB discussions are on-going.

 

[Chewy316]

There is something soft about the AFL these days that is permeating through every club. And I feel conflicted because the prison bars guernsey and everything it stands for flies right in the face of what the AFL has become.

One question I do have if the club were to try to wear it full time for home games, is whether they believe it would in a way lessen the value and meaning of it? I get that it was our jumper for such a long history, but the values of the jumper I just don't necessarily see in the AFL today.

I think if you're going to bring that jumper out and wear it for a game, then the players under no illusions must be fully committed. The prison bar jumper was never worn by soft players, and I do wonder whether our current mob are even worthy of wearing it?

At this stage I'm almost inclined to wear it at Showdowns and in finals. These are the big games of the season, and are the very type of games that require the excellence, the commitment and the fortitude that the past players showed whilst wearing the prison bar guernsey. But wearing it on a Sunday afternoon against Gold Coast in a meaningless home and away fixture? That I'm not totally comfortable with.

 

[S.Patrol.G]

The celebration is about the entire 150 years history, not just one point 150 years ago.

If there was no contention about the PB guernsey, then wearing this original guernsey would be no problem, however the fact that we are being told we can't wear our most famous guernsey, by another club, means that wearing the 'hoops' will represent capitulation. Right now, with recent trashing of club traditions, it would be a very poor decision by the club to do this. Besides, won't Geelong have something to say about it?

There also seems to be a push by the club for us to ignore the massive elephant in the room; why are we not allowed to wear a guernsey of our own choosing and why is one of our competitor clubs given the right to dictate to us?

Our Heritage.
Our History.
Our Right.

#bringbackthebars

I found this interesting. KT made a point of considering Collingwood in the whole PB debate, but not even a whisper of a mention of Geelong and blue and white hoops.

If we are so considerate of Collingwood and their thought on black and white stripes, why not Geelong and blue and white hoops? You're absolutely right about the elephant in the room and the club ignoring it can only make me believe they are going to wimp out, just like they wimped out with Hinkley's contract. I don't think our CEO has the fight in him.

 

[Lockhart Road]

https://themongrelpunt.com/afl/2019/05/15/eddiepower?fbclid=IwAR0-c4Lkp3eQzJ67Or2V3zZJcX7iE3wOGss1a2Inie0ntxYlL1IK6OpDnBw

.... Although, there may not be an official agreement per se, Collingwood and McGuire still ultimately hold the cards in the conflict. This is because “the AFL would prefer (McGuire) accept the concept rather than condemn and criticise it,” as The Advertiser’s Michelangelo Rucci told this author.

.... But at some point, AFL Chairman Richard Goyder or CEO Gillon McLachlan or anyone in a position of authority at the AFL surely need to stand up. It should not be that hard for the governing body to – well – govern?

.... However, McGuire’s power is not be underestimated. His enormously successful career includes being the inaugural host of The Footy Show. The Footy Show, now no longer in production, was a phenomenal show that changed a dwindling sport to a commercialised entertainment-based industry. McGuire is also the longest living club president who transformed Collingwood from a basket case to a sporting superpower. By any measure, McGuire is one of the most influential Collingwood figures in the club’s long history. Eddie also holds prominent media roles on Fox Footy and Triple M. His media company JAM TV produces shows such as the long-running Sunday Footy Show and Footy Classified, as well as Channel 7’s coverage of AFLW and AFLX.

In fact, the CEO of McGuire’s JAM TV is Cos Cardone, a Port Adelaide board member, it’d be interesting to see where he fits in the Power’s battle against McGuire. ... ...

 

[Andre]

https://themongrelpunt.com/afl/2019/05/15/eddiepower?fbclid=IwAR0-c4Lkp3eQzJ67Or2V3zZJcX7iE3wOGss1a2Inie0ntxYlL1IK6OpDnBw
The Footy Show, now no longer in production, was a phenomenal show that changed a dwindling sport to a commercialised entertainment-based industry.

LOL. The Footy Show turned a moribund VFL into a billion dollar national competition. I've heard it all now.

It was the haven for those still having wet dreams about the VFL days as it became a national competition.

 

[shewho]

We wore other guernseys from time to time but for the majority of the 150 years (and more importantly, the majority of our successes) it was the Prison Bars. But there is one reason why the 150 celebration must feature the Prison Bars front and centre and not as a novelty on the side. The greatest argument for us is:

The Prison Bar Guernsey is a National Icon.

It is arguably more iconic than the Collingwood jumper as that jumper (or it's close relation) is worn by a dozens of clubs across a number of sport in numerous countries. The PB jumper is unique and iconic and we should be doing more as it is the enduring symbol of a unique and iconic club. The AFL is poorer for the fact that it does not embrace one of the icons of its sport's history. That has to be rectified in 2020.

 

[bomberclifford]

We've worn a black and white stripe design since 1902 and apart from the WWII anomaly of wearing 'stripes' instead of 'bars', we've been wearing some variation on the wharf-pylon inspired guernsey for 117 years.

 

[Pappagallo]

There also seems to be a push by the club for us to ignore the massive elephant in the room; why are we not allowed to wear a guernsey of our own choosing and why is one of our competitor clubs given the right to dictate to us?

This is such a weird situation to be in. I cannot think of any other club in any other sport in the world that has such conditions placed upon it.

The only one that comes close is Melbourne City initially being denied sky blue due to Sydney FC having a cry. That got rectified after only two or three seasons and now they essentially wear the same shirt, without the weight of history or tradition or identity driving the change (unless you include Man City as an extension).

 

[chiwigi]

This is such a weird situation to be in. I cannot think of any other club in any other sport in the world that has such conditions placed upon it.

The only one that comes close is Melbourne City initially being denied sky blue due to Sydney FC having a cry. That got rectified after only two or three seasons and now they essentially wear the same shirt, without the weight of history or tradition or identity driving the change (unless you include Man City as an extension).

MONEY is the difference in both circumstances. City had it and so do Collingwood.

 

[TeeKray]

People need to realise and accept that we ain't gonna wear the prison bars as our primary guernsey in AFL ever again.

This is more or less the same thing as saying 'people need to realise and accept that we ain't gonna win a premiership in AFL ever again'.

Something being very difficult does not mean it's impossible or shouldn't be an aspiration.

 

[TeeKray]

MONEY is the difference in both circumstances. City had it and so do Collingwood.

Money is a source of power but it is not the only source of power.

So long as we continue to play nice and play fair, we'll continue to get bullied by the big kids in the schoolyard.

 

[chiwigi]

At least all these things will be sorted soon. The AFL require 9 months notice for guernseys, so the first game of 2020 is going to be announced by July at the latest.

 

[Pappagallo]

Money is a source of power but it is not the only source of power.

So long as we continue to play nice and play fair, we'll continue to get bullied by the big kids in the schoolyard.

As members and supporters we need to exercise a bit of people power here. We should commit to wearing the Prison Bars over other guernseys at games. Each and every one.

The club should also make them accessible to others who don’t already have a set themselves i.e. start selling them at the Port Store again.

These aren’t silver bullets by any stretch but every little bit helps and we need to continually show that it’s important to us.

 

[MitchIn3D]

As members and supporters we need to exercise a bit of people power here. We should commit to wearing the Prison Bars over other guernseys at games. Each and every one.

The club should also make them accessible to others who don’t already have a set themselves i.e. start selling them at the Port Store again.

These aren’t silver bullets by any stretch but every little bit helps and we need to continually show that it’s important to us.

100%, wear them whenever you can! If you don't have one, head to the club and get one. Its been great seeing so many in them around the ground in the last couple of weeks, hopefully we can see more!

 

[TeeKray]

As members and supporters we need to exercise a bit of people power here. We should commit to wearing the Prison Bars over other guernseys at games. Each and every one.

The club should also make them accessible to others who don’t already have a set themselves i.e. start selling them at the Port Store again.

These aren’t silver bullets by any stretch but every little bit helps and we need to continually show that it’s important to us.

The biggest bullet we have in our gun - and I keep mentioning it for a reason - is public support. Support from other clubs, the media, football fans in general. Two things:

1) There are A LOT of people and clubs who have agendas against Eddie McGuire. The Sydney Swans are the best example but there are others. These people would do anything they could to stick the knife into him.

2) Our case is irresistible, it's simply asking for natural justice. No fair minded person without an agenda (ie no non Collingwood person) could possibly not support it.

We need to find a way to harness all of this potential support rather than trying to get Cos Cardone to plead with Eddie behind closed doors to please let us wear it once, maybe with silver, probably signing some agreement that says we can never wear them again.

 

[TY24]

This is the answer to all your problems


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[El_Scorcho]

The biggest bullet we have in our gun - and I keep mentioning it for a reason - is public support. Support from other clubs, the media, football fans in general. Two things:

1) There are A LOT of people and clubs who have agendas against Eddie McGuire. The Sydney Swans are the best example but there are others. These people would do anything they could to stick the knife into him.

2) Our case is irresistible, it's simply asking for natural justice. No fair minded person without an agenda (ie no non Collingwood person) could possibly not support it.

We need to find a way to harness all of this potential support rather than trying to get Cos Cardone to plead with Eddie behind closed doors to please let us wear it once, maybe with silver, probably signing some agreement that says we can never wear them again.

Yep. All we need is for the club to publicly declare that our preference is to wear it every home game. Put it back in the hands of the AFL.

I know why Koch and KT won't push hard on this. They're weak. This is the kind of thing that could be controversial and upset enough important people to cause a board change, as the re-merger and the move to Adelaide Oval did.

The thing is, Koch and KT are both on borrowed time at the moment anyway, and they'll go down as unpopular failure merchants. This is a great opportunity for them to achieve something meaningful for Port Adelaide during their tenure, and they may find they like weilding a bit of power and it may even cause a change in approach that flows through to the football team.

 

[Garibaldi Red]

I remember pacers with the drivers wearing the PB's at Wayville in the early 1960's, one of the horses was named Fos, I assume that was one of your grandfather's horses.
I have often wondered what happened to those silks, have they been deregistered or are they still owned by your family?

Wasn’t Jeff Potter also involved in the trotting industry and used those colours?

 

[PA88]

The planned celebration game is wanted the be played on the same day we played our first game.

Hence the blue hoops making sense.

For the record though, I strongly dislike this guernsey!

Celebrating throughout the year, as well as acknowledging our heritage ongoing is also paramount and wearing the PB's in showdowns caters for this IMO.

Wearing prison bars every game, or for the 150th celebration game next year, will not fix our current issues, not will it help us long term.

This argument seems to come up strongly whenever we are going badly or not living up the "Port Adelaide of old" results.

Some people simply need to move on and accept who we are now.

We aren't winning this war, but can win a few battles.

No I don't think this argument comes up whenever we're not playing well onfield. The period 2001 to 2003 attests for this when we pushed for the PB then.

We might win this war if we win enough of the battles. Let's assume we do win this war, then we are the club that wears black and white PB.

Anyway, I'm not attempting to change your position.

 

[Andre]

View attachment 674795

This is the answer to all your problems


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This post should be in spoiler tags that it may cause an epileptic fit.