Power wants to play AFL game for premiership points in China next season

UPDATE: THE AFL says a second team has agreed to play a home game against Port Adelaide in China, but won’t reveal who it is. Do you want it to be your club? VOTE

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas told The Advertiser in Shanghai today the Power would not give up any of its 11 home games at Adelaide Oval to play in China. Picture: Sarah Reed

UPDATE: THE AFL says a second club has agreed to play a match for premiership points in China next year.

Victorian clubs questioned about their interest in playing in China by the Herald Sun today bristled at the prospect of a 10 hour and 40 minute journey each way from Melbourne to Shanghai to play Port Adelaide.

But they were most wary about the thought of giving up a home game for the right to play the Power, after it was revealed today Port is set to play an AFL game for premiership points in China next season.

OPINION: PORT’S CHINA DEAL MORE THAN JUST A SIDESHOW

RELATED: CHINESE BUSINESSMAN’S MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR AFL DEAL

It is believed Melbourne, St Kilda, North Melbourne and Western Bulldogs loom as the most likely Victorian teams to be considered for the match.

Insiders at Collingwood and Essendon said both clubs were unlikely to give up valuable home blockbusters for the chance to play in China.

“We have willing teams, we have an agreement with a (second) club, which I won’t talk to, and we have agreed to do it,” McLachlan told media in China on Thursday according to the AFL website.

Port Adelaide sported jumpers with Chinese on the back when they played Essendon last week. Picture: Sarah Reed

One club source said the travel time would be a major factor.

“Footy teams complain about having to go to Perth to play from Melbourne,” he said.

“There might be some money on offer for this but we would want to know a high level of detail before we were convinced.

“You would have to play the game before a bye and basically have two weeks off.’’

The Power have signed on to play an AFL match in Shanghai but now need to find a venue.

This mission statement was sealed on Thursday morning in Shanghai with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull overseeing an historic agreement between the Port Adelaide Football Club, the AFL and Chinese business empire, Shanghai Cred Real Estate.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Power, AFL and Shanghai Cred was signed hours after Shanghai Cred founder, Gui Guojie endorsed a multimillion-dollar cheque to bankroll the Port Adelaide Football Club for the next three years.

Port Adelaide has tried for the past two years to play an AFL pre-season game in China, but struggled to find a venue.

Now the Power has lifted the bar to seek an AFL home-and-away match in Shanghai — the first AFL game for premiership points in the northern hemisphere.

The Power wants this game next season — to beat the NFL launching its American football adventure in China in 2018.

A game in China would be scheduled around teams’ mid-season bye in May, 2017.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has classed returfing the 40,000-capacity Shanghai Stadium as a greater challenge than finding an opponent for the Power.

“The commercial reality of the game sells itself,” McLachlan said.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas told The Advertiser in Shanghai today the Power would not give up any of its 11 home games at Adelaide Oval to play in China. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Port Adelaide has done the work to jump so many hurdles. Those that remain are just half the size of those they’ve cleared already.”

AFL matches for premiership points have been played overseas only in Wellington, New Zealand, with St Kilda hosting three Anzac Day games until abandoning them this year.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said in Shanghai today the Power would not give up any of its 11 home games at Adelaide Oval to play in China.

The Power, however, would be the “away” team and added “we would retain all the rights of a home team”.

This would require a financial incentive for a rival AFL club to give up a home game in Australia to play Port Adelaide in China — as has happened for the Power in the NT with the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne in recent years.

Gui’s backing of Port Adelaide and the AFL makes this task more certain.

Thomas presented the MOU today as “history in the making”.

“Today is a day that has been the culmination of a lot of hard work — (it is) a day that many thought would never happen,” said Thomas at the Shanghai ceremony.

“I’m incredibly proud to have a signed a MOU on behalf of the Port Adelaide Football Club that ensures we will do everything possible to play a game for premiership points here in Shanghai as early as next season.

“Only last week we announced a landmark partnership with CCTV to broadcast three Port Adelaide game into China, along with a 25-week documentary series.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, Port CEO Keith Thomas and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Shanghai Cred founder Gui Guoije.

“We see today’s announcement as another important step in bringing the people of Australia and China together through a mutual passion for sport.

“Our partnership with CCTV is more than just entertainment; it is about understanding. Through our regular AFL programs on CCTV, the viewers in China will see more of Australia and learn more about our culture and Australian life.

“Port Adelaide has also invested in Chinese social media platforms such as WeChat and Weibo and has for more than 12 months employed Mandarin-language commentators to make the game more accessible.

“These initiatives will not only increase awareness and understanding of Australia, but will also help to promote tourism and international education.”

The MOU signed on Thursday as the Prime Minister started his China tour has Port Adelaide work a “five-pillar” plan to put the AFL and Australian football in China.

Beyond seeking an AFL game in Shanghai, the Power also is committed to further development of AFL in China — including support for school programs in Shanghai and university programs in Guangzhou.

Port Adelaide is already backing the Chinese representative side Team China and the Guangdong and South China AFL competitions.

McLachlan committed the AFL “to work with Port Adelaide to explore all available options to take a first game for premiership points into China”.

He also paid tribute to the Power that just four years ago was considered on limited time to play AFL games in Australia.

“Port Adelaide, through the efforts of president David Koch and chief executive Keith Thomas, has done much outstanding work in the last four years to rebuild its position and profile within our competition,” McLachlan said.

“The club has now taken another significant step forwards with its move into China, to further expand its supporter base and build the wider exposure of the club and our game beyond Australia with its commitment to support school and university programs in Shanghai, Guangzhou, along with current AFL programs in China.”

[e-mail]