Port Adelaide brings back the white number panel for new jumper — on fans’ call
EXACTLY seven years after schoolgirl Lucy Burford designed the black jumper with the white-and-teal “V” that won over the fans as Port’s home guernsey, there is a throwback to the club’s SANFL past.
FAN power again has shaped the Port Adelaide AFL jumper.
Exactly seven years after schoolgirl Lucy Burford (now 17) designed the black jumper with the white-and-teal “V” that won over the fans as the Power’s home guernsey, there is a throwback to the club’s SANFL past.
The white panel with the black number on the back of the jumper — symbolic of the Port Adelaide Magpies SANFL jumper since the 1950s — from next season will be a permanent part of the Power home guernsey, revealed yesterday.
The white number panel was introduced to Port Adelaide’s black jumper for Showdowns with the Crows two years ago — and created a groundswell positive response from Power supporters to be seen more often.
“The feedback from members was, ‘Why can’t we see that jumper all the time?’,” Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas told The Advertiser.
“Our fans love the connection the jumper brings to the club’s Magpies heritage.”
Thomas and his executive staff commissioned two surveys in the past two years to establish just how strong the appeal is among Power fans for the white-panel jumper.
“In 2015, after the jumper had been worn once, we surveyed 3600 and had 82 per cent in favour,” Thomas said.
“This year, we surveyed more than 5000 and the approval was at 85 per cent.
“As a club, we support the view of the fans that it is right to make that feature a standard rather than an exception for our guernsey.
“So from next season, that white number panel will be on our black jumper every time we wear it at home, rather than just at Showdowns, and when we can wear it away from Adelaide Oval.”
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au