Today Port Adelaide released its 2024 financial results and even the most ardent sceptics have to admit they look very good. When most of the current regime came to the club around 12 years ago things weren’t looking so rosy. It seemed that the goals of the club needed to shift from “we exist to win premierships” to simply “we exist”. And in spite of these challenges in the first few years of Ken Hinkley the on field recovery was impressive too.
Over a decade later and despite significant financial challenges, not the least the Covid period, the financial side of the club has continued to flourish. This year another $2 million dollars of debt has been wiped away, leaving less than $2 million in debt remaining and raising the prospect of a debt free club this time next year. This while creating significant uplift in the clubs assets with the significant development of Alberton Oval. It would seem that the financial future of the club has been secured, and for this credit needs to be given to the president, board and admin team who have done the heavy lifting.
“We exist”. The question the members still want answered is, “but what for”?
Do we just exist to exist? Or do we “exist to win premierships”?
Yes the training centre is very impressive but what about coaching and development? Are we spending enough to get the best? Or is the perception of a bargain basement coaching and development team (below coach Ken Hinkley and coach in waiting Josh Carr) a reality?
Does this financial stability allow us to recruit and retain a premiership quality team? Or are the stream of internal promotions really a sign (as some members suggest) of cost cutting, rather than getting the nations best available.
Do we have the same accountability for on field results that we seemingly have for off field ones? Or are we a business first and a football club second?
The president, the board and the administrative team are to be commended for these fantastic financial results. And the question still remains. Is the team that helped the club still “exist” the same team that can prioritise football and help the club win its next premiership? And does the current governance structure (with only 2 member elected board members) allow for a board to meet the members desire for a premiership as well as the AFL’s desire for financial stability?
Leave a Reply