Why have Port been better at retaining players than the Crows over the years?

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Taper

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Jun 9, 2023
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We've seen how West Coast have been better at retaining players than Fremantle over the years, which isn't a surprise given the Eagles are bigger, more successful and have been around longer.

However, it's a different situation in SA.
You'd think the Crows being bigger, more successful and being around longer than Port would lead to them having better player retention rates than Port but this isn't the case.
Port were really bad in 2011 and 2012 yet they managed to retain Travis Boak despite my own club actively courting him. Clubs also tried to poach John Butcher but he decided to stay at Port.
Crows player losses have been well documented and we've seen Dangerfield, Cameron, Lever and Gunston all become premiership players after leaving the Crows.

I know Port lost Houston recently but this thread topic is about judging the clubs by the collective, rather than just one season.
Crows have had more success (2 flags > 1 flag), have been around longer (1991 > 1997) and have a bigger supporter base, so why have Port been better than the Crows at retaining players over the years?
 
I'll be honest and say it's likely culture. Port is indeed a legacy football club over 125 years old, while ours was established in 1990. You can't argue with those facts. In addition, many of us Crows supporters are the first to criticise the club for embracing mediocrity and focussing on keeping the big, loyal crowds coming in - by chasing finals rather than premierships. When absolute spuds get put in the leadership group and get gold passes, that kills a performance culture and makes good players look elsewhere.
 

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Kulcha

I don't have think it has anything to do with Adelaide being a brand spanking new start up club.

It has more to do with the people in charge of running the club, at both the coaching and administrative level, being the kind of geniuses that think the Power Pose, openly airing and sharing deeply personal secrets against their will to the playing group and coaches etc... are initiatives that will lead to Premiership success rather than activities that inevitably create fractures between players coaches and admin.

 
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Not this again

Besides Danger who was a free agent
McGovern
Lever
Cameron
Gunston

Who else have we lost
Tippett, Bock, Davis, Betts, Jenkins.
Compare your player retention over the years to that of West Coast, and it's chalk and cheese.

Your club are seen as the SA version of West Coast. A big, powerful, well respected club who represent a proud Australian Football state. Hence why Port having a better player retention rate than the Crows over the years has always surprised me.
 
Bit of an outdated opinion to be honest.

Last few years the only players we’ve lost have been three fringe types in Kelly, Doedee and Himmelberg. Doedee the only loss of any note and was solely contract related coming off his second ACL.

On the flip side Port have lost two of their prime ball movers in recent years - Houston and Amon. Also lost a fringe type in Duursma who not that long ago was one of their bright young talents. Soldo also wanted to leave after one year.

Not saying the AFC don’t have issues with retention - it was a horror show for a while there - but this should be a 2020 thread, it’s not particularly reflective on current trends.
 
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embracing mediocrity and focussing on keeping the big, loyal crowds coming in - by chasing finals rather than premierships. When absolute spuds get put in the leadership group and get gold passes, that kills a performance culture and makes good players look elsewhere

Some of us Port supporters feel that this would describe us right now.
 
Except for Gunston they are all still playing and having an influence on the results of games.

A tiny bit harsh on Gunston. His influence has obviously waned significantly but he still has some influence on games. He's been playing as more a defensive forward on influential defenders and still kicked 7 goals (4 and 3) across 2 games against GWS with both games high pressure and decided by under a goal. He also kicked 4 against Brisbane and 3 against both Carlton and Adelaide. He kicked 5 against the Tigers and got 3 Brownlow votes. He was also top 15 in the whole comp for marks inside 50, despite being sub 5 times (and only playing 13 full games). 40 goals and assists from the little game time he got was nowhere his best but still influential at times.

Or were you thinking he remained delisted? (Cos he was re-drafted and had to be delisted to allow the minimum number of picks at the draft).
 

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Why have Port been better at retaining players than the Crows over the years?

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