Port Adelaide dismisses Showdown 43 banner as harmless banter
PORT Adelaide players and coaches have no idea what is written on their game-day banner, even if it taunts the opposition, assistant coach Brendon Lade says.
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PORT Adelaide players and coaches have no idea what is written on their game-day banner, even if it taunts the opposition, assistant coach Brendon Lade says.
As the Power sifts through the wreckage of Sunday’s Showdown record 84-point loss to the Crows, former defender Paul Stewart has taken aim at the club’s banner that poked fun at Adelaide supporters.
The banner said Crows fans should pack their chardonnay, knitting needles, rule book and apricot slice but refrain from banging on the fence — a reference to the club’s complaints about a SANFL rival making too much noise at their game.
“Banners having a go at oppositions has me baffled. Why? Asking for karma in my opinion,” Stewart wrote on Twitter.
Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams said banner banter was harmless fun and did not provide opposition teams with any added motivation.
“I love the fun banter that cheer squads get up to,” Williams said.
Asked whether there had been any internal talk about the club’s banner, which was splashed on the back page of The Advertiser, Lade dismissed it as harmless fun between supporters.
“What was on the banner?” he said when asked at his press conference. “We’ve got no idea what goes on the banner and I’m sure it’s just supporters having a bit of fun.”
But Lade did admit a Showdown loss stung that little bit more than others.
“Every loss stings but when it’s in your same town it’s not terrific, and you’ve got to walk around all week and see Crows supporters wearing their beanies and scarfs and it’s not a great feeling.
“And you’ve got mates who are Port supporters and they cop it as well.”
Crows chief executive Andrew Fagan said he could see the funny side to the banner banter.
“It provided supporters with both clubs plenty to laugh about. It is all a bit of fun, don’t mind the banter and encourage it,” he said.
Reigning premier the Western Bulldogs raised the bar for humour in their banners last season with comedian and banner writer Danny McGinlay’s work becoming a weekly talking point.
Some of their slogans included: “Finally something to do in Canberra on a Friday night” when they played GWS, “Get some Hawk on your fork” against Hawthorn and “Mid-Strength Carlton”.