Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says club could field AFL, reserves and SANFL teams

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PORT Adelaide chairman David Koch says the introduction of an AFL reserves competition would have “absolutely no impact” on the club’s SANFL presence.

Koch floated Port Adelaide fielding three sides — in the AFL, a potential AFL reserves competition from next year and the SANFL.

An 18-team national reserves competition would mean Port couldn’t use its traditional prison bar strip due to a clash with Collingwood but would still use its traditional strip in the SANFL.

“It has absolutely no impact on Port Adelaide keeping an SANFL team. We are a founder of the SANFL competition,” said Koch.

“I don’t know how many times I have to say, we will never leave the SANFL.”

Coach Chad Cornes with Steven Summerton and the Port Adelaide Magpies at last year’s SANFL grand final. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Koch conceded there would be a financial burden operating three teams but noted other AFL clubs running women’s teams incurred costs.

“We are a community club, the Magpies are a reflection of the community. We are not Westpac, BHP or the Commonwealth Bank that we are having to make lots of money for our shareholders,” Koch told FIVEaa.

“We are there to put money back into our community. If part of that is keeping a Port Adelaide Magpies team in the SANFL.”

However, Koch lamented the SANFL making it “harder and harder” for the flagship side to remain part of the competition. Moreover, Koch is disappointed that the club’s wish to have an SANFL women’s side had met resistance.

“We will be in the SANFL for as long as I am chairman. Yes there is a financial burden but there is a financial burden of having a women’s team which are hoping to have in the next year or two.

“We were hoping to have a team in the SANFL’s women’s team but weren’t even invited or talked to about it. We are incredibly committed to South Australian football and always will be.”

The SANFL wants Port Adelaide and Adelaide to honour a commitment to field teams in the competition until 2028.

Koch said Collingwood permitting the Power to wear its prison bar guernsey in AFL sanctioned games would probably depend on a change of Magpies president.

Collingwood supremo Eddie McGuire remains opposed to Port donning its prison bar strip.