Port Adelaide fans make Powerful statement in city’s tattoo parlours

There’s no shortage of Power fanatics asking Adelaide’s tattoo artists to stamp their loyalty on them for life. But one fan is going even further.

Gavin Lawrence getting his touch up port tattoo from artist Dylan Glacken. Picture: Ben Clark

Power fans are declaring their lifelong support for Port Adelaide Football Club by permanently tattooing their team’s emblem — but one is taking her commitment beyond the grave.

The Advertiser met Michelle Birchers from Mitchell Park, 63, as she was sitting in the chair getting a tattoo of Port’s emblem on her forearm, a team she has supported since she was 10-years-old.

But Ms Bircher choice of getting a tattoo pales in comparison to her request for her children to spread her ashes across Alberton Oval.

Now Ms Bircher is getting stamped to make up for her missed opportunities in 2004 and 2007 when Port was in the Grand Final but “now that they’re having another crack,” she feels it’s time for her to get that long awaited tattoo.

Michelle Birchers getting her Port tattoo at Edwardstown. Picture: Ben Clark

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This act is meant to celebrate Port’s success in the season so far having made it into the qualifying final.

There is also another rationale behind Ms Bircher’s choice to support Port and it’s not only because she considers them the best team.

This signed Port Adelaide guernsey and a scarf are up for grabs.

It is also the fact “that they’ve been successful,” and “many years ago they were a very, very family-orientated club.”

A fellow Port supporter Gavin Lawrence, 33, from Albert Park, got the club logo tattooed in the same shop a year ago.

Mr Lawrence’s is a lifelong Port supporter and has been a member of the Port Adelaide Cheer Squad since 2013.

He decided to get the Port tattoo in honour of the club updating their logo.

“Not that the old logo was bad but just the rejuvenated image of the club,” he said.

Mr Lawrence would also consider getting another tattoo but something simple and small like “a jersey with my last name and a favourite number of mine.”

The owner of this tattoo parlour, – InkInSkin Tattoo Studio, – Dylan Glacken, has had his fair share of tattooing AFL symbols.

Mr Glacken reported that with the season coming to an end, there can be up to fifty AFL related tattoos.

These tattoos include everything from the logos, premiership ones or individual players in the style of footy cards.

Mr Glacken’s emphasised that AFL tattoos are done by anybody or any age.

“Ten plus years ago it was more male specific but nowadays you find that it’s pretty even across the board between males and females.”

“The younger ones are about 25 and generally those are the blokes that play footy themselves.”

“But ones you move into the 35 and older category these are just people that enjoy it, go to the games or are members of one of the teams.”

But there are unfortunate instances where people try to predict the outcome of the games, getting a premiership tattoo early February or March only for the team to never make it to the finals, in which case the person is stuck with an unfortunate tattoo.

Originally published as Port Adelaide fans make Powerful statement in city’s tattoo parlours