Port Adelaide Magpies to treat Bloods clash as Alberton Oval finale

THE Port Adelaide Magpies are to treat the clash against West Adelaide on Sunday as their curtain call at Alberton Oval.

THE Port Adelaide Magpies are to treat the clash against West Adelaide on Sunday as the club's curtain call at Alberton Oval in its current status.

With uncertainty hanging over the future of the club and its personnel amid talk of the Magpies becoming the Power reserves next season to duplicate the move by the Crows, the players will attack the contest with the mindset it is their final home game.

The players discussed the situation at training on Thursday night and captain James Meiklejohn, who will retire after the final minor round, said they were motivated to close the Alberton door in style against the Bloods.

"Nothing has been confirmed as to the future of the club and there has been plenty of speculation,'' Meiklejohn said.

"We don't know what is going on so we may as well treat it as the last home game.

"We talked about how we want to finish off - do we roll over or give it a red hot crack?

"Rolling over would be the easy thing to do but we have put in since October so we want to finish as best we can.''

Meiklejohn admits it has been tough for the players, especially as they still do not know what the future holds.

"There should be a fair bit of emotion at this game,'' he said.
"There is a lot of passion through the boys for the club and community.

"A lot of the boys have been at the footy club for a while.

"Guys like Steven Summerton have come through the juniors and it would be hard for them not knowing where the club is going - the uncertainty.''

The lack of a concrete future has put the Magpies at risk of losing a raft of players to rival clubs who are ready to pounce.

South Adelaide caretaker coach Kym Cobb could put his hand up for the job for next season.

Cobb has taken the reins for the club's season finale against Sturt at Unley today after Ron Fuller was sacked on Tuesday with a year remaining on his five-year contract.

"I have not thought about the coaching job yet and will weight it all up,'' Cobb said.

"I have a desire to coach - I would not be here if I did not.

"Ron was here for four years and he was fantastic to me. He put in all the effort and I have a lot of respect for him.

"The boys know they have to take some of the blame and responsibility (for the club's form).''

Cobb said there would be slight tinkering of the Panthers' game and the club wanted to make a statement against the Double Blues.

Woodville-West Torrens will host competition pacesetter Norwood at Woodville Oval today.

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