Sensational-Adelaide.com

Posted: **Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:23 pm**

Port Adelaide Magpies fans rally to save their embattled club

* From: AdelaideNow
* February 11, 2010 3:11PM

PORT Adelaide Magpies fans will fight for their club's survival at a public meeting tonight - and have been bolstered by thousands of names on our online petition.

AdelaideNow has launched a petition to pressure the SANFL to save the Magpies - click here to join our campaign.

Nearly 3800 people had signed our petition by 3pm Thursday.

Balfours Bakery, a major sponsor of the Balfours Showdown, is pitching in with a $5000 cheque for the club, and Magpies-themed frog cakes for fans.

The frog cakes and cheque will be presented to Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson at the membership information meeting at Alberton Oval tonight.

Balfours marketing manager Anna Bryant said the group was pleased to lend a hand to the Magpies.

"South Australian icons have to stick together," she said.

"Balfours is a huge football supporter and it is fitting that we show solidarity and do what we can to see the Magpies stay out on the field."

Mr Johanson said it was encouraging to see South Australian businesses rallying behind the club.

"Balfours is a community-minded company and this show of support reinforces why the brand is a local favourite," he said.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/port-adel ... 5829235969

There are efforts led by the Port Adelaide Enfield Council I beleive, to have Port Adelaide Magpies FC heritage listed, and keep the club alive.

Apparently there's a big backlash against the 8 clubs which voted 8-1 against the merger.
In particular one of Sturts major sponsors is threatening to withdraw sponsorship of Sturt as a result of them voting against the merger.

It's a disgrace, trying to destroy part of the states history. Would they demolish Old Parliament house? If it had Port Adelaide logo on it, the answer is probably yes.

The petition

http://dsc.adelaidenow.news.com.au/m/an ... he+Magpies

Posted: **Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:27 pm**

Apparently the club only needs $500 000 to stay afloat.

Surely this isn't a lot of money that a combined drive involving the Port Adelaide Enfield Council, the community and local businesses couldn't come up with.

Also, with the state election coming up, a $5000 cheque from local member Kevin Foley would surely sway a few votes....

Even though I'm not a magpies supporter, I can't imagine the SANFL without the magpies.

Posted: **Thu Feb 11, 2010 5:46 pm**

$500,000 is just for this year.

If there is no solution soon, they will sell the Prince of Wales hotel, because they have pledged to compete this year.
After that, if nothing changes, this will be the last season for Port Adelaide in the SANFL.

Gordon Pickard is in talks with the club. No details known yet.

Posted: **Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:29 pm**

rev wrote: In particular one of Sturts major sponsors is threatening to withdraw sponsorship of Sturt as a result of them voting against the merger.

http://dsc.adelaidenow.news.com.au/m/an ... he+Magpies

From what I understand they were considering it anyway.

The Magpies going (if we're looking for a silver lining here) would help end the identity problems faced by PAFC. When it entered the AFL, the PAMFC was created and it created all sorts of

with people thinking the AFL club was the new one, the SANFL one being the old one. This created all sorts of marketing problems for the club.

As for what it means for the SANFL, well it would certainly take away a LOT of value from the league- how much money does the game against Port bring in for Norwood? How many people would be disenfranchised with the SANFL (like Fitzroy fans in the AFL)? I wouldn't be surprised if the AFL is just waiting for the SANFL to start falling over before taking the two SA licenses and pushing the SANFL teams in to AFL-SA, something the AFL was wanted for a long time...

Posted: **Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:03 pm**

5AA's John Blake's tribute song:
http://www.fiveaa.com.au/Audio_Bye-Bye- ... Pies_96093

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