Phantom wrote:Just out of curiosity and seeing as how people are talking about this... The Crows may very well be a puppet of the SANFL, but if memory serves me correctly, wasn't it Port that attempted to join the AFL in the late eighties or early nineties, while the SANFL was organising a South Australian team (which was deemed far too strong), which in turn seen them ostracised from the SANFL for a while? Does anyone know it the SANFL still holds a grudge about this?
Slight correction. The SANFL were not putting together an SA team for the AFL before Port moved ahead with plans to join the VFL/AFL.
Port Adelaide was invited by the Victorians to join. Port accepted.
The SANFL threw a tantrum, threatened legal action. The AFL then said "come up with an SA team". So the SANFL threw up after a night of binge drinking chardonnay, and out came the Adelaide Crows, denying Port Adelaide it's rightful place in the national competition as the strongest South Australian team.
The whole reason the Crows exist, is simply to spite Port Adelaide.
Back on topic - As a Crows supporter, I can see it being logical that Port Adelaide host the first event at the Adelaide Oval. I mean, the club could definitely use with an instant sellout game financially. They've made no real action to try and hide the fact that the club's finances aren't in a good place. It's public knowledge, really.
Port Adelaide has won 21 premierships at Adelaide Oval.(another 13 at "Football Park").
The Crows got the first showdown at AAMI..let's say their claim was they were the first SA based AFL team.
The Crows finish off the 2013 season with the final AAMI showdown as well. Quite fitting imo, since they started off the "official" rivalry on field with the first showdown.
Port has a rich historical connection to Adelaide Oval, more so then any other ground. If it weren't for Port taking the first steps to move to Adelaide Oval on it's own, there would be no redevelopment and we'd be stuck with bandaid fixes at AAMI for eternity as the SANFL would continue milking tax payer funds as long as they could.
Port should get it simply to recognize the fact that it has contributed so much to football in this state, and continues to bring the game forward to the benefit of all football fans in this state, regardless of who they support.
Paulns, I believe the alterations to the Western stand are for the AFL media center? It was discussed a few pages back before the port-crows posts.