Power gets fan-friendly fixture, but can Ken Hinkley deliver a winning team to watch?
PORT Adelaide expects Adelaide Oval to be “rocking” on April 8 when the Power celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first Showdown against the Crows.
PORT Adelaide expects Adelaide Oval to be “rocking” on April 8 when the Power celebrates the 20th anniversary of the first Showdown against the Crows.
While the history making trip to China — for the first AFL game for premiership points outside of Australia-New Zealand — is the major gain for Port Adelaide in next year’s AFL fixture, recalling the rich history of the SA Showdowns is another highlight of the Power’s favourable schedule.
China, revisiting Showdown I and opening the Anzac Round with Friday Night Football against Carlton are the major “commercial” themes in the Power’s fixture.
“It’s 20 years since the Showdowns began,” said Thomas, referring to the first derby on April 20, 1997 that was won by Port Adelaide by 11 points against the well-established Crows. “And the 20th anniversary needs to be recognised.
“We want to celebrate one of the great rivalries in Australian sport. With a Saturday night Showdown, Adelaide Oval should be rocking.”
Thomas describes the Power’s fixture as “well balanced” in meeting Port Adelaide’s on-field needs and off-field targets.
“(Coach) Ken Hinkley is always the first to call when the fixture is released — and he is pretty happy,” Thomas. “For the things Ken looks for — who we play at home, the balance of teams we play, who you get twice — is it okay.
“And commercially we like it for having four big-drawing Victorian clubs — Carlton, Collingwood, Hawthorn on a Thursday night and Richmond. It is fantastic for our fans at Adelaide Oval — and for drawing a crowd.”
Port Adelaide dropped its long-standing wish to be part of games in the Northern Territory, a space now taken up by the Crows who will play Melbourne in Darwin in July.
“We had to put out focus on Shanghai,” Thomas said referring to the historic May 14 clash with Gold Coast in China. “We can still be involved with the community in the NT without being on the ground with a game. Being in the Central Australia corridor has been nice, but it was not an imperative once we put our focus into China. You can’t do it all.”
Port Adelaide has just one appearance on the primetime Friday Night Football stage — the Anzac Round clash with Carlton at Adelaide Oval on April 21.
“You have to earn the right to play on Friday night — and we respect that,” Thomas said.
Port Adelaide fell to 10th in the AFL rankings this season.
“And we expect a significant response — and fully expect to get it in 2017,” Thomas said.
michelangelo.rucci@news.com.au
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