If you were waiting for a sign that now is the time to fight to regain control of our great club and return it to its former glory, then THIS IS IT!
No, I’m not talking about the signs erected on Port road recently. The sign I am talking about is the targeted, venomous and repeated media attacks of our members and one of only two board members elected by those members. The fact that these attack dogs aren’t even hiding that it is people from within our own club that are aiming their arrows, shows just how comfortable those within the club feel disrespecting the members who made this club great. The fact that no one in the club has responded in defence of its own members just reinforces this view. Clearly they no longer feel they have any real, tangible accountability to the members.
These same media mouthpieces talk of the divide that is increasing at the club, whilst failing to realise the real underlying reason it exists. The sickness at the club is much deeper than on field results, the coach, the football manager, the CEO or even the chairperson. These are merely symptoms of a much deeper problem. This divide would not have been allowed to develop and fester for such a long period of time if the current custodians of the club were truly accountable to the members by means of a true vote for the board. A luxury afforded to most Victorian clubs and one that Port enjoyed through most of its successful history.
The time for a showdown between the members and the custodians of the club is fast approaching in 2028 and the time to start campaigning for that fight is now.
Why 2028? Because that is when the AFL will cease to be the controlling “members” of The Adelaide Crows. At that time they will grant those rights to “any other class of member” that is present or otherwise established by the AFC board. Crows club members will be hoping that this means them. Port fans will probably be hoping the same, as that will put the maximum pressure on their own board to offer the same. This despite them failing to get the same provision entered into their own constitution when they had the chance in 2014.
Recent attacks on the “unhinged” Port membership and calls for their elected board member Warren Tredrea (one of only two) to resign may be seen by some as a targeted attack on this movement. What better way for those who wish to hold tight to power at Port to fight back than to slander both the members and their elected members via their media allies. And if this is not the case why has no one at the club defended its own members and board members? A precursor perhaps for an argument not to return the club to the members when the chance arises?
The irony of this approach is that it actually serves to reveal just how much power the membership have, if they unite!
The club representatives cannot afford to outright slander the members or Tredrea themselves. Nor can they afford to remove the very popular figure (and the likely members choice for future chairperson) from the board. This would surely lead to a members revolt that would be far louder than the booing of Ken Hinkley from the outer. They could expect far more signs, far louder boos and perhaps most significantly an even greater drop off in attendances at games than they have already seen.
Put simply the club cannot afford such a response and the current custodians cannot allow the AFL to see it either, if they want to retain their positions and power.
So what can members do? They cannot under the current arrangement vote in enough board members to induce real change. They must make their voices heard in every way that they can. Be that with their voice at games, on social media, on talkback radio, with their wallets and with every communication they have with both the club and the AFL.
They must also unite. Perhaps now is the time for a PAFC supporters association of some sort. A block of members who are willing to vote with their feet and their wallets to put pressure on the club to make the decision that is needed. Not the decision to sack the coach, or the football director, the CEO, or even the chairperson. The decision to return the club to its rightful owners, the members, once and for all.
Leave a Reply