SANFL backflips on decision to halt Port Adelaide cheerleaders’ grand final performance
Magpies’ cheerleaders are ready to rev up the crowd after the SANFL reversed a decision to bench them.
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Call it a win for pompoms and people power.
Port Adelaide’s cheerleading team has secured its place on the SANFL’s grand final schedule, earning the right to rev up the crowd on Sunday after the league backflipped on a decision to bench the dancers for the flag decider.
The SANFL on Wednesday told the Magpies’ troupe it would not be allowed to perform before the grand final because opponent Glenelg did not have its own team of cheerleaders.
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The move “devastated” the Port Adelaide dancers and was criticised heavily by Magpies fans, who have seen the routines become a regular part of the club’s minor-round and finals programs.
But the league on Thursday reversed its ruling, paving the way for the dancers – all aged between 11 and 18 – to perform on the grand final stage.
Choreographer Gaynor Palmer, who runs Gaynor’s School of Dancing, welcomed the reversal – a decision also backed by Glenelg president Nick Chigwidden.
“That’s what they dance for, to get into the grand final and be involved with the electricity of the crowd,” Palmer said.
“It’s hard work and to get to the grand final and not be able to dance would’ve been devastating.
“But now I’m just elated, I’m so happy for the girls.”
Before finals, the SANFL guaranteed Port Adelaide its cheerleaders could perform in matches up to the preliminary final but did not commit to the grand final.
Palmer said she was originally told that Port having cheerleaders when Glenelg did not would create a “one-sided” advantage for the Magpies.
But a league spokeswoman said the “decision was made prior to finals, well before we knew which teams were competing in the grand final”.
“However, we’ve since acknowledged the commitment and enthusiasm from the Port Adelaide cheerleaders and look forward to having them involved in Sunday’s grand final,” the spokeswoman said.
Chigwidden agreed allowing Port’s cheerleaders to perform was the right decision.
“We don’t see it as an issue at all,” Chigwidden said.
“If they’ve got cheerleaders and they want to use them, fine.
“If the girls had been (performing) for them all year it would be disappointing if they couldn’t do it grand final day and I don’t think it will have an impact on the result of the game.”
Palmer said support for the cheersquad had galvanised the team.
“There was 81 comments on the Port Adelaide Football Club (Fan Group) Facebook page and the girls don’t realise just how much they are appreciated,” she said.
“The outcome now is just fantastic.
“A big thank you to the SANFL and the supporters.
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“It’s for the love of the club that we do it and it is an honour to be out there on grand final day.
“We are very proud of the boys and I reckon they’ll get the win.”
Abbey Harby began cheerleading for Port in 2016 and was pleased the SANFL would now allow the group perform.
“I’m so excited,” Harby, 18, said.
“It’s an absolute honour and to be performing in front of thousands of people will just be amazing.
“Finding out we couldn’t perform was really upsetting for all of us because we train so hard and we perform at every home game, so it’s great to now be able to perform.”
