Inaugural Power AFL president Greg Boulton takes issue with Eddie McGuire ‘rewriting Port Adelaide history’

Inaugural Port Adelaide AFL president Greg Boulton is offended by Collingwood leader Eddie McGuire’s claims on how the Power and Magpies split in the 1990s.

Inaugural Port Adelaide AFL president Greg Boulton is hoping the club’s 150th anniversary honours the 2004 AFL premiership-winning jumper - along with the 1902 “prison bars” guernsey.

• History behind the prison bars
• Power’s celebrations soured

INAUGURAL Port Adelaide AFL president Greg Boulton is firing back at Collingwood leader Eddie McGuire for “rewriting history” in the battle to put the Power in the black-and-white “prison bars” jumper next year.

Boulton is offended by McGuire’s claims the “Magpies” SANFL unit was abandoned by the “Power” AFL franchise in the 1990s.

And Boulton has taken exception to McGuire claiming the Port Adelaide Football Club that played in the AFL for the first time in 1997 - losing to Collingwood at the MCG in the first game - is not the original PAFC founded in 1870.

In his interview with SEN1629 on Friday morning, McGuire claimed: “I actually supported the Port Adelaide Magpies when the Port Adelaide Football Club were trying to run them out of business not that long ago; we actually offered to support them in SANFL.”

Boulton responded to The Advertiser saying: “Part of the conditions from the SANFL - for accepting the AFL sub-licence in December 1994 - was the separation of the ‘Magpies’ and ‘Power’ not only as entities but physically, forcing the Magpies to be based at Ethelton (rather than Alberton).

“We left the Magpies with more than $1 million in assets. We did not abandon them.”

The Port Adelaide Football Club was reunited with the “One Club” campaign led by club greats Tim Ginever and George Fiacchi finally approved by the SA Football Commission in 2012.

On McGuire’s suggestion a “new” Port Adelaide Football Club was formed for the AFL in 1997, Boulton says the Collingwood president needs a refresher course on SA football history.

“Let’s be quite clear that the Port Adelaide Football Club that was formed in 1870 won the sub-licence to enter the AFL,” Boulton said.

“It was a tender process among SANFL clubs. Port Adelaide won that sub-licence.

“For legal reasons, the club had to change from an ‘incorporated’ to a ‘limited’ entity to accept the sub-licence. There has always been one Port Adelaide Football Club since 1870 - and it won the SANFL’s vote to take up an AFL sub-licence.”

Boulton is supportive of Port Adelaide’s push - in its 150th anniversary next season - to wear the black-and-white “prison bars” jumper first worn by the club in 1902. This campaign remains blocked by McGuire, particularly if it leads to the Power wearing the guernsey every season - twice a year in Showdowns with the Crows at Adelaide Oval.

“That black-and-white jumper - that has played such an important part in forging the club’s heritage - must be recognised in Port Adelaide’s 150th year,” Boulton said.

“It is part of the symbolism of the club’s long story.

“So is the 2004 jumper in which we won our first AFL premiership. I would hope this guernsey also is honoured next season.”

Port Adelaide last wore the “prison bars” in 2014 - in the elimination final against Richmond - in the first AFL final at Adelaide Oval when the AFL was asking the Power to wear a clash jumper to avoid a clash with the Tigers’ black guernsey.

McGuire told SEN1629 there needs to be an ultimate verdict to stop the repetitive controversy that comes from Port Adelaide wanting to wear black-and-white jumpers.

“Let’s find an elegant solution so we don’t have this nonsense that comes up all the time,” he said.

McGuire’s answer is for the “prison bars” to be recast in magenta and teal blue to capture Port Adelaide’s past and present.

McGuire also is concerned if Collingwood agrees to the “prison bars” in 2020, Port Adelaide will persist in wearing the jumper in future seasons.

“We’ve always said ‘yes’ (to the Power’s heritage requests),” McGuire said. “But what we don’t like is when people pull your pants down at the same time.”

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