Port Adelaide greats Tim Ginever and George Fiacchi have marked the first anniversary of the One PAFC merger with a call for all supporters to become members, to help the club realise the full benefits of its historic reunification.
The One PAFC ambassadors addressed more than 250 people who celebrated at The Port Club on Thursday 17 November, 12 months after separate votes of the SANFL and Port Adelaide members approved the Power-Magpies merger.
The clubs had effectively been divided since Port Adelaide won entry to the AFL in 1997, with the terms of the Power’s admission forcing it to operate separately from Magpies who were even forced to relocate away from Alberton.
Fiacchi told the anniversary party: “I think it’s great that the clubs have got back together as one. I think that’s the biggest issue we had. Everyone didn’t know which was the real Port Adelaide or who was barracking for who.
“Now it’s all one club. It’s got a long way to go, but at least the start’s there, the foundation’s been laid. Hopefully we see things start to blossom from here.”
Premiership team-mates, Ginever and Fiacchi spearheaded a public campaign during 2010 for the merger to proceed. They gathered more than 41,000 supporters who registered on a website, helping to convince football authorities that the clubs should become one.
Ginever said the merger was already paying great dividends.
“I think this combination of making sure we all know who Port Adelaide is now gives us a chance and the momentum to go forward now and be successful,” Ginever said.
The 2012 We Are Port Adelaide membership drive highlights the strength of the club’s supporters of both teams. It also symbolises the benefits of the merger, with the club offering Power and Magpies membership packages together for the first time.
A former Magpies captain, coach and seven-time SANFL premiership player, Ginever called on all supporters to become members to throw their weight behind the teams, and to help the club’s financial position.
“We said when we went to the AFL with our bid in the mid 1990s that we had 300,000 people who barracked for Port Adelaide, which we’ve never doubted,” Ginever told the crowd.
“Get on board, sign up, we’ve got to blow everybody else away and show the strength of Port Adelaide and where we want to go. I think it’s a matter of we’ll get on board and we’ll carry the teams with us.”
Fiacchi - who also won seven grand finals - added: “We should have 50,000 members and hopefully this year everyone gets on board again.
“We’ve just got to keep growing from here. It’s important that we don’t just drop now and hope it all works.”
Buy your membership now at WeArePortAdelaide.com.au
The crowd celebrating the anniversary had the opportunity to meet and get autographs from past Magpies heroes including Scott Hodges, Russell Ebert, Max James and Trevor Obst.
They were joined by current Magpies including captain Jimmy Meiklejohn and Mark Dolling.
The Power was well represented by Travis Boak, Jackson Trengove, John Butcher, Brett Ebert and Brad Ebert.
Chief executive officer Keith Thomas and president Brett Duncanson also joined the celebration which is set to become an annual event.
