Port Adelaide will be wearing its traditional black-and-white prison bar guernsey in Sunday’s First Elimination Final against Richmond at the Adelaide Oval after apparel supplier ISC confirmed it could meet the production deadline.
The heritage jumper is a compromise option that’s sure to fire up its fans who were stunned by the AFL’s decision Sunday that the club would have to wear its white clash strip in the home final as Richmond did not have a clash strip that was distinctive enough.
Port Adelaide’s home strip for this weekend’s final will comprise the black-and-white guernsey, white shorts and black socks.
The underlying issue – that Richmond has no right to wear its home guernsey in an away final – was overlooked by the AFL when it started the controversy Sunday night.
League officials notified Port Adelaide that it considered there was a clash between Port’s home jumper and Richmond’s away rig.
It hadn’t been an issue on any of the previous occasions since Richmond unveiled its away strip in 2010.
And if it was an issue, then the solution should have been the responsibility of Richmond as the side that finished eighth.
Instead, the AFL declared that the Tigers would wear their home gear and Port would don the white away jumper.
Port CEO Keith Thomas was seething.
“It’s a billion-dollar industry, you’d reckon that we could get those sorts of things right,” he told reporters.
“You’ve got to be strong; Port Adelaide would prefer not to be wearing its white guernsey any week but it has to because we abide by the policy of the AFL.
“I don’t think it’s inappropriate for Richmond to have to wear a yellow guernsey when they’re away and clashing with the home side.
“You can’t have one rule for one group and another rule for another.”
By Monday afternoon the AFL was feeling the heat as media commentators on both sides of the border laid into the stupidity of the decision.
Richmond CEO Brendan Gale weighed in via Twitter: “@Richmond_FC clash jumper deemed inappropriate by @AFL. Strange considering we’ve been using it v @PAFC since 2010.”
Port Adelaide officials then changed tack, applying to wear its heritage black and white stripes – or prison bar – guernsey.
The AFL checked with Collingwood (who’d finished 10th and were having Mad Monday) and they agreed to Port wearing black and white.
Port then checked the property steward’s cupboard and discovered they didn’t have any of the striped jumpers – they’d been sold after the heritage round as a fundraiser.
By this time Port officials had suddenly become conciliatory and thanked the AFL while also looking for a supplier.
“The AFL have listened to this feedback and have been willing to support us with the alternative option of wearing our traditional prison bar guernsey,” Thomas said.
“We thank the AFL for listening to our club and our community on this very important matter.
“And we are also very grateful to the Collingwood Football Club for taking a pragmatic view in the best interests of Sunday’s final and agreeing for us to wear black and white stripes.
“Rest assured Port Adelaide fans, we will be working closely with our supplier ISC to do our absolute level best to get the guernseys produced for Sunday’s historic final.
“We will be in a position to make an announcement one way or another in the next 24 hours.”
And after all that, the underlying problem of Richmond’s away jumper being too similar to its home rig is unresolved.
All of this, however, will be added incentive for Port fans to barrack louder and longer on Sunday at what’s already a sell out match.
