Port Adelaide president David Koch says Showdowns need to lose ‘nastiness’

Showdown 56 proved to be one of the most heated games in a footy’s most heated rivalry. David Koch says both SA clubs need to come together to take the sting out of future Showdowns.

The two South Australian clubs must come together to take the nastiness out of Showdowns before they meet again next year.

That is the view of Port Adelaide chairman David Koch, who has suggested Crows forward Josh Rachele’s pre-game comments crossed the line with denigrating “elitist crap” that are “almost poor-shaming” to Power fans.

Rachele saying Port supporters had no teeth set the scene for a fiery Saturday night clash that featured Power defender Dan Houston knocking out Adelaide speedster Izak Rankine, then and some of the Port home crowd booing Rankine as he was stretchered off.

Port forward Willie Rioli was racially abused online and the Power mascot being punched by a rival fan.

Koch told FIVEaa the clubs needed to take responsibility for taking the sting out of Showdowns.

David Koch says the head needs to be taken out of the Showdown. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I remember all those years back (former Crows chairman) Rob Chapman and I went out of our way to take the nastiness out of the Showdown,” Koch said.

“For years, it’s been really terrific.

“A whole range of things means we’re going to have to really look at something before the next Showdown, both clubs.

“You can’t punch a mascot, you can’t racially vilify a player online, all that sort of thing.

“That nasty edge – and we must say from a tiny, tiny majority – is destroying it for everybody else.”

Port Adelaide players had made a habit of throwing verbal barbs at the Crows in the lead-up to their games, such as describing them as arrogant and entitled in 2022.

Before last Saturday night’s contest, the roles were reversed as Adelaide launched several jibes at the Power.

Koch said both clubs had to be considered with what they said leading up to Showdowns.

“Good old-fashioned banter is one thing … but when you look back at that (Rachele) discussion, could it be seen as really elitist crap, denigrating, almost poor-shaming...?

The Showdown erupted on and off the field on Saturday. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

“There is the lighthearted Crows fans are the chardonnay set and that sort of thing, but where do you draw the line?

“I know this is not right, but I’m just using it as an example of lighthearted banter towards a supporter group and then it becoming personal, you don’t say, the Crows are a wealthy supporter group because they’re white-collar criminals and rip off the workers.

“There’s a fine line that I think we need to be really aware of between banter and a bit of a nasty edge.

“Then to bring it into the game, you’ve got to be really confident in your own abilities because you’ve got to walk the talk.”

Koch said while the two clubs were fierce on-field rivals, they were really close off the ground, regularly working together for the good of South Australian football.chee

“Yes, there’s a rivalry but there’s an enormous respect,” he said.

“One of my great loves in football is where I see a family walk into that stadium, mum in her Port gear, dad in his Crows gear and the kids are split.

“That is one of the most beautiful things in football that families can respect each other and their different allegiances, and I think we’ve all got to adopt that.”

David Kock said the Showdown should be a place families can feel comfortable going. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Koch was also full of praise for Crows captain Jordan Dawson’s class for going up to Houston post-game and saying he knew he was not sort of player.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said his team “didn’t have our best week” when it came to the lead-in to the Showdown.

“We are still a young group, we are human and we are going to make some mistakes so we will work through them,” Nicks said.

“Josh is a passionate young lad and a really important part of what we are building at this football club.

“We all have moments that we would like to have back and it is not an individual here that we are talking about.

“There are a number of things that we did during the week right across the board where we can take things out from.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide president David Koch says Showdowns need to lose ‘nastiness’