Off the board and in the Hall of Fame, George Fiacchi delivers a powerful message at Alberton
George Fiacchi helped reunite the Port Adelaide Football Club eight years ago. Now as a Hall of Famer, he is trying to strengthen the bonds of unity at Alberton.
Michelangelo Rucci
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George Fiacchi is free to speak of Port Adelaide with his fall from the club’s board.
And the Magpies premiership defender’s speech in his induction as a Hall of Famer on Wednesday night had the full force of this freedom.
Fiacchi was the leader of the One Club campaign that in 2011 reunited the Magpies and Power 14 years after SANFL rules ordered separation at Alberton. He inspired the Never Tear Us Apart anthem Port Adelaide took to Adelaide Oval in 2014.
An unshackled Fiacchi noted there is “conflict” within the Port Adelaide Football Club, a real threat of the club being torn apart from within. The old guard has been vocal, particularly fellow Hall of Famer and premiership hero John Cahill, on the break from tradition with two captains.
The critical partnership between club president (David Koch), chief executive (Keith Thomas) and coach (Ken Hinkley) no longer carries — at least by perception — the image of being rock solid as it was in 2014.
That much-debated impromptu speech by Koch at Adelaide Oval — appearing to be critical of Hinkley — after the extra-time elimination final loss to West Coast in 2017 still ripples. More so by those within the Port Adelaide tent questioning the contract extension — to 2021 — that Hinkley gained while appearing to be tempted by a return to Gold Coast.
Fiacchi, a six-year board member who has been replaced by Brownlow Medallist and inaugural Power captain Gavin Wanganeen, has read the vibes across the Port Adelaide faithful very well. As he should considering he reunited and recharged the club’s traditional supporter base after it felt the Port Adelaide Football Club had strayed from its roots to appeal to others.
Fiacchi’s appeal for faith and unity to take on the challenges posed by the Power’s 17 AFL rivals is well placed. It does reiterate all that Hinkley said in announcing Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas as co-captains.
“There is enough in the world — in the other 17 (AFL) clubs,” Hinkley said, “that want to belt us up. Let’s hang together and belt up on the rest.”
Port Adelaide’s Hall of Fame inductions — of Fiacchi, AFL champion Kane Cornes and the club’s 1962-63-65 SANFL premiership teams — were paired with the club’s AFL-SANFL season launch. And the Hall of Fame overshadowed the build-up to a new season that carries no slogan, no catchphrase (such as Hinkley’s original “Never Give Up”) and minimal fanfare.
Even Hinkley finally parked the “brave” theme that has worn thin with the Port Adelaide fans (and others).
It has reached the point where Port Adelaide’s presentation and promises cannot be charged up by the club’s renowned events and marketing team.
The team that has to deliver at Alberton is the one that takes to the field from Saturday, March 23 against Melbourne at the MCG — the place and opponent from Hinkley’s first game in 2013.
The Power’s first month of competition will tell Fiacchi if he needs to speak again …
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