Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson has confirmed that it's "not new news" that the club is keen to move its reserves side from the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) to the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Despite being contracted to the SANFL until 2028 and needing to give 12 months notice to leave the league, Richardson believes Port Adelaide's football program will be "compromised" if they don't join the VFL in the near future.
The VFL became a national competition in 2021, welcoming former NEAFL sides Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney and GWS to join the existing Victorian clubs.
READ MORE: Marsh leaves World Cup for 'personal reasons'
READ MORE: Astonishing Fowler stat surfaces after Matildas screamer
READ MORE: England star quits suddenly after 'staggering' snub
Richardson is keen for Port Adelaide to be the next to join the league, giving them a chance to utilise the equalisation opportunities on offer.
"There are 14 clubs at the moment operating in a second-tier structure. There are four clubs operating in a different second-tier structure and that's the conversation we'd like to continue to have (with the AFL)," Richardson said on Thursday.
Despite not having a set timeline to enter to VFL, Richardson said the club's focus is on giving their reserves players a chance to prepare equally to reach the top level.
"Our role is to make sure we're providing an environment that's going to give our players the best chance to develop and perform at AFL level," he said.
"It's really an ongoing conversation we're having with the AFL. There's a whole lot of equalisation measures across the competition, whether it be salary caps, NGAs (Next Generation Academies), father-son.
"One of those other really important equalisation measures has to be second-tier competitions. That's a conversation we're having on an ongoing basis with the AFL."
Port Adelaide's exit would be a bitter blow for the SANFL, with the club's 36 premierships the most in the league's history. Port is also the oldest club in the SANFL, having being originally established in 1870. Norwood's 31 premierships rank second in the SANFL behind Port.
The Port CEO was adamant the club had not blindsided the SANFL about its intentions to leave the competition, despite the SANFL releasing a statement on Wednesday saying it had not spoken to the Port Adelaide Magpies since the middle of the year.
"The reality for us is the Port Adelaide Football Club has been in the AFL now for 26 years and we've been having these conversations around second-tiers one way or another, for all of that time (26 years)," Richardson said.
Richardson urged Port Adelaide members to think of the long-term benefits, despite fears being raised surrounding the potential loss of the club's successful heritage and its iconic prison-bar jumper.
"This should be about what's best for football," Richardson said.
"The structure that's in place at the moment is sub-optimal for both bodies (league and Port Adelaide). Let's actually work out what's best for football in South Australia and nationally.
"Participation is down, talent is potentially down. There are some concerning indicators in South Australia. What we're saying is we want to be part of that solution and second tier is part of that conversation.
"I'm sure the members of the Port Adelaide Football Club will what's best for the Port Adelaide footy club."
He referred to the club's big move for their senior team in 1994, when they made the decision to jump from the SANFL to the AFL. Port Adelaide officially entered the AFL as the Power in 1997. Port won its one and only AFL premiership seven years later when they ended Brisbane's hopes of four consecutive flags in 2004.
"The members made a decision in 1994 to move to the AFL competition to be an AFL club," Richardson said.
"If this is best for the Port Adelaide Football Club in order to provide our athletes the best chance to develop in the national competition, I'm sure they'll support that
As for what lies ahead, Richardson called upon the AFL to make the next move.
He remained strong that it is up to the league to ensure all 18 AFL clubs have equal opportunity in the reserves competition as we inch closer to the introduction of the Tasmania football team in 2028.
"This is really for the AFL to consider. If you were designing the AFL second-tier competition right now, would you have the second-tier structure that is in place? Of course you wouldn't," he said.
"There's got to be a better model that supports the AFL clubs and the way that they develop their talent."
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.