Port "tradition"?

[HAHAHA]

Oh yeah I forgot we now only have 10 VIC teams because one wasn't strong enough to last in a NATIONAL competetion. SORRY for that mistake!

 

[Power Mad]

Alright, I promise you I'll shut up in 100 years time if Port have only won one flag, like Saint Kilda and the Bulldogs. Even the mighty Hawks and Kangaroos had to wait decades for success.

You see, it's Port's tradition of success that makes us supporters so confident that it won't be long before we win one. For god's sake, if the Crows can win two in their first decade, then Port fans can almost *assume* that we will taste success pretty quickly too.

Oh - if Melbourne had only two clubs, they would be Essendon and Carlton

********************************************
"The Port Adelaide Tradition - they just don't know how to lose. It's remarkable"

- Brad Hardie, Brownlow Medallist.
********************************************

 

[Dan26]

Port Magpies, may have had a lot of success, and they deserve those accolades. They have been a great club in the "second rate" SANFL.

But, POWERMAD, there is NO guarantee that the Power will continue that success in the big time. The may, or may not. You never know. I don't take success for granted. And I barrack for Essendon, where success has been pretty regular.

You can't copare the standard of the VFL/AFL with the SANFL. There is no comparison. The old VFL , (which is the same competition as the AFL, with clubs added from all round Australia), was easily the strongest. That's why so may from WA and SA came across to play in the big time.

P.S. Please don't take that as being bias. Victoria has three times as many people as SA, and consequently, can produce a higher standard competition.

The AFL is the old VFL. It has just been expanded, to include teams from all over the country with a name change to accomodate that. Now it's fantastic. I love the national competition. The fact that the AFL celebrated it's centenary in 1996, shows that it is the same comp (why would the celebrate the centenary, otherwise ?)

Antway, moving back to what I was saying, now that Port are in the best footy comp in the land (the AFL, or the expanded VFL), they are going to have to serve an apprenticeship. The may have success, but you can't go "claiming" success, when they havn't had any success yet !

 

[Power Mad]

What I've been trying to get across is that the Port Magpies tradition of success has been carried over to Port Power in the AFL. That doesn't mean to say I expect the Power to win 7 out of 10 premierships, or anything like that, but the winning *culture*, the self belief and expectation of all involved at the club is something no other new AFL franchise starting from scratch nowadays could ever match.

This is what sets Port apart from the Fremantle Dockers. Dockers fans and officials more or less accept their mediocrity because they are only new to the AFL caper, but that sort of performance would be unacceptable at Port. Look what happened to John Cahill - got them closer to the finals in the first 2 years than the Dockers have ever been and he didn't get his contract renewed.

Yes, the AFL is a big ocean compared to the small pond of the SANFL, but the 130 year history of the Port Adelaide Football club means that the Power has a solid foundation which will fast track their progress in the AFL.

And the great thing for Port fans is that the introduction of the Power has had no effect on the performance of the Port Magpies. The Tradition continues!

 

[Pessimistic]

I have watched Port and been impressed by the players and supporters spirit over the first few seasons
I did expect a better showing in last year's night GF. There was no evidence of spirit except in the Hawthorn Ranks

Power supporters keep very quiet about that one. I believe the words before were "A final is a final, expect a good showing from port"

When you meet us again soon (maybe in a Day GF) I hope for a better showing.

 

[Power Mad]

Yes, that Ansett Cup final was extremely disappointing. Apart from the original Showdown, Port hasn't done very well in its milestone matches.

But, the boys bounced back from that shocker and had good wins in Sydney and Brisbane at the start of the season. They beat Hawthorn when premiership points were at stake and made the top eight (which Hawthorn didn't), so a fairly satisfactory season overall.

I'd be happy whoever we meet in a day GF. I'm just not sure how we'll go in our first one, that's all ;-)

 

[HAHAHA]

Somehow I doubt you opinion that if there were only 2 clubs in Victoria and Essendon. I believe we could get by without Carlton but without Collingwood the competition just wouldn't be the same. And don't think now, that just because you have a team in the AFL you automativally know everything, I mean every fact about the VFL/AFL. By the way, I don't think the competition would be the same without Essendon either, I'm not sure! Collingwood has a greater supporrter than BOTH Carlton and Essendon, and consequently MORE members.

 

[Dan26]

HAHAHAHA....you are living in the past. There is NOTHING like the Essendon army to get a crowd pumping. The crowd has got us over the line in so may games, i have lost count.

While there might have been some debate as to which club had the most supporters earlier this decade, there is now NO DOUBT.

Essendon is the most popular club, and rightly so. Averaging nearly 60,000 per gmae over 22 matched is something that Collingwood has never done or will ever do. The Bombers have about 1.2 million supporters Australia wide, something which sSTUNNED Collingwood, a few years ago, who always beleived they had the most. Victoria is becoming a sea of Red and Black

Essendon has 20 % of the Victorian support for those under 20 years of age, and about 16 % (i.e 1 in 6 ) overall.

Statistics prove this. You can't argue against it.

The best way to judge,is to look at how Essendons crowds go against Collingwood when we play the same opponent and the circumstances are similar. It's unfair
to use 1999 as an example, becasue
they were on the bottom.

Take 1998. On a Friday night, Collingwood played Sydney at the MCG. The Pies win loss record was 4-2. They were near the top of the ladder at the time. The Swans were pretty good too. They had a 5-1 win-loss record. 57,000 turned up.

Now Essendon played the Swans a few weeks later. Nearly identical cirumstances. Friday night, agaisnt the same opposition (Swans). By memory Essendon were 6-5, and we had put together 3 or 4 succesive wins.
Our win-loss ratio was WORSE than when Collingwood played the Swans.

Anyway, 64,000 turned up to watch Essendon play the Swans. More than Collingwood (who remember were near the top at the time) got.

By the way, we won the match by 10 goals.

They think they are the most supported club, but the reality is........these days it is not even close. And the support gap is getting wider and wider. I think Essendon
is the club of the new millenium.

Approximately 50% of people barrack for the same team as their parents. While Collingwood will retain that 50%, they are losing the rest. If you're a kid growing up, you don't want to barrack for a team that is on the bottom.

It is not "cool" to barrack for Collingwood.

When Essendon play Freo in Round 3, we will have more suppoters in Perth than they will !

And don't start quoting me membership numbers either. While membership is a guide, it is not necessarily reflective of who has the most supporters. If it was, then Hawthorn, two years ago, would have been the most popular club. We all know, that the Hawks are "middle range" when it comes to supporters. Attendances at games prove this.

Carlton have only 26,000 members, or so (which puts themm in the middle, membership wise), but we all know they have 700,000 supporters Australia wide (Essendon with about 1.2 Million)

Essendon is UNDISPUTABLY the most popular Victorian club. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but it is a fact.

 

[Power Mad]

Well it was just a light hearted dig at Collingwood, but you have to admit Carlton and Essendon are doing it much better than the Pies at the moment in all respects.

You boast more members than those teams, but Collingwood still made a $Million loss. What happened - did Eddie have to put it up as the prize money in his quiz show?

It would actually be good for the competition if Collingwood did make it back into the finals again, but it's going to take a long time the way they're going at the moment.

And I don't claim to know every fact about the VFL/AFL, only that Port Adelaide are going to play a prominent part in its future!

 

[Eagle_Fan]

Even from the most isolated capital city in the world (Perth), I'd have to agree that Essendon seem to be the most popular Victorian club. Collingwood might have a chance if they weren't so feral.
Just remember Dan, that if you're calculating this by attendences, some grounds have a smaller capacity than others. Almost every West Coast game is a sell-out, we have ~38-40,000 members, and a waiting list of 3000+ people, each able to but 4 memberships. It's got to the stage where the club are stating that if a member dies, they're membership will be cancelled! That way a membership can't stay in a family for the next century.
Even so, our maximum home crowd will only ever be around 43 thousand. The powers that be at the West Australian Football Commission had the chance to greatly increase the capacity of Subi with the recent renovation, but instead chose to replace the standing room with seats, in effect reducing the capacity!

 

[Power Mad]

Oi! I'm happy that this topic is still number one (page 3 - woo hoo!), but Dan24 and Eagle_Fan should take their argument to another topic.

 

[HAHAHA]

Well we are a little off topic now but i just want to reply to the essendon supporter and eagles supporter. I AGREE you have the vast majority of YOUNG support. HOWEVER, this comes from Essendon being a successful club recently (maybe not producing flags, but overall being a successful club) therefore having alot of supporters who follow the good team. you can bet that if collingwood were to start playing like they could (which they will within a few years, we don't expect it too quick), then of course our supporters figures would increase. By the way, seeing as though you have the most supporters,are you all tight asses or something? You dont have the membership to match Collingwood, and that seems odd, doesnt it? And now you are moving to Colonial stadium, where are you going to fit all these supporters you mention, hmmm, makes me wonder!

Oh yeah i just read, you mention that you had 64,000 come to see you play the swans, well, that figure seems more than you can fit in to your homeground, sorry! Oh yeah those supporters you have follow success, and can change just as quickly what club they support, if they were to become successful!

To the Eagles supporter, so you think Collingwood fans are feral just from what you have seen at the games you have played against us at Vic Park, YOU IDIOT! These are idiotic acts committed from idiotic people, who are a disgrace! I think we are way off the topic and should stop this petty arguement which has been done a thousand times!!!!!

 

[JohnB]

Hey power mad, if port think that they were sooo bloody good in getting into the AFL, then why didn't they just put their ENTIRE SANFL team into the competition to see how they would go - you never know, they might have just won the AFL flag in their first year?

 

[Power Mad]

What - and leave the SANFL in the lurch? We'd never do that ;-)

No, this way we can win premierships in both competitions!

 

[Dan26]

HAHAHAHA, Essendon has always had strong support. Even in 1997, when we finished 14th, we played in front of nearly a million spectators for the whole year. Have a look at some of the stuff I have posted under the topic "Worst behaved supporters", and you will see some interesting stuff.

We play 9 games at the MCK this year and 9 at Colonial. WE play all our bu\ig gmaes at the MCG, and any expected to be lock out will be shifted, if possible.

Reember, at the MCG, MCC members take up a lot of the crowd. These people won't attend Colonial stadium, so you can take them off the projected attendance. They contribut nothing financially to the AFL anyway.

I mean we are playing half our games at the biggest AFL venue in the country, and the other half at the second biggest AFL stadium in the country.

That Essendon-Sydney crowd of 64,000 in 1998 was about as much as you could reasonably expect from an Essendon-Sydney match. For example, in Round 3 1999 we played them at the MCG and got 50,000, a figure, which when converted, would be projected to be about 46,000 at Colonial (minus MCC members)

 

[Power Mad]

You keep repeating yourself Dan24. Who knows, some of what you write may even be right, but you've written all of this (numerous times) in another topic, so why the hell don't you keep it there. Or better still, think of something new to write about 'the universe's most supported Aussie Rules team'.

 

[Pessimistic]

I know a lot of other club's supporters don't take us seriously, but watch out for Hawthorn becoming a power club. It is our intention and it will happen.

Evidence
-The biggest crowd ever at Waverley was Collingwood v Hawthorn in 1990 - they weren't all Collingwood fans

-40,000 v fremantle in 1998

-50,000 v port adelaide (ansett cup 1999(

-80,000 v sydney round 22 1999

Granted we almost went under but that is now acting in our favour as we become more feral

We are poised to build on our first ever generational expansion of supporters. that is children of fans who joined up in the eighties. We only need some moderate success and it will happen

As all the interstate and docklands charge more and more, Hawthorn will be an affordable alternative at the MCG. Remember Essendons average was 23,000 before they moved to the G. Hawthorn will take over the market they (foolishly) vacated to go to colonial

 

[JohnB]

Well powermad, apparently port doesn;t want to be in the SANFL as at August 1990 - yes, we remember when the news broke when those dirty stinking rotten smelly whafie traitor scum trash put in its bid to join the then VFL. Oh yeah, you've burnt me, you've burnt me!

 

[Power Mad]

Well 10 years later, fans of the other SANFL clubs probably wish Port *had* left the league back then - seven premierships in the 1990's didn't give the rest of you much of a look in did it? And one of the rare non-Port premierships went to a merged team!

On the other hand though, if Port had joined the AFL in 1991, there would be no Crows premierships for you to hitch your bandwagon to. So you fools should be grateful for Port's 1990 bid to join the AFL, because that's what led to the creation of the Crows.

Enjoy those two flags, because now that Port is establishing itself in the AFL, they will naturally become SA's leading team. As is the Port Adelaide Tradition.

 

[Dan26]

Pessimistic

A Couple of things. 40,000 vs Femantle at Waverley was ONLY becasue of Jason Dustalls last game. No other reason. 72,000 vs Sydney was only becasue of Waveleys last game. You might remember getting 13,000 against freo in 1999 at Waverley.

Don't even try to compare Hawthorns support to Essendon.....puh-lease.

How can you say we are foolishly going to Colonial.

Are you aware we are playing 9 ganmes at Colonial and 9 at the MCG ? Are you aware of this ? Did you alos know, that with the likelihood, of at leat one gam being transferred, maybe two, this will mean an 11-7 split in favour of the MCG.

Are you also aware that Colonial is the second biggest AFL stadium in the country, and we are only playing our smaller games there anyway. Were you aware of this ? Were you aware that Colonial is now the SECOND BIGGEST AFL stadium in the country ?

This means Essendon is playing 18 games (9 each), at the two best stadiums in the country.

Essendon have ALWAYS had huge support, due to a hisyory of success. At Windy Hill, we struggled to get crowds at that particular venue (because it was a hole, and couldn't hold more than 25,000 people), but whenever we played a match at the MCG the attendances were huge. Take 1989 for example. We played Geelong on a mudheap at the MCG and got 87,000. Even back in 1981, we drew 79,000 to Waverley (a then record), and another 75,000 to Waverley in the last home and away game agaisnt Geelong.

Look at some of the biggest home and away crowds in hoistory, even back in the 40's, 50's, and 60's, and they all invlolve Essendon. Most of those were away games agaisnt Melbourne (becasue Melbourne was the only club that used the MCG as a home), but trust me........Essendon massive following hasn't just arived. It's been there for a long, long time.

The two best stadiums in the country, will give us a chance to enhanceit even further.

Granted, Hawthorns following is getting bigger due to all the kids who barrackd for the great Hawthorn teasm now being in their early 20's and buying memberships, but attendances at games all around the country, show there is no comparison. Ever watched a game that Essendon play in Perth. We have more support than the Dockers !!

 

[Power Mad]

Hey Bluey,

How about 'naming' these off-topic bores here as well?

 

[Macca18]

What tradition?