June 02, 2007
From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs
Reported by Brett Stubbs
SCRAPPING its alignment with AFL side the Kangaroos gave VFL club Port Melbourne new life, and the Borough's president Peter Saultry says Tasmania should do the same.
After a successful alignment with Sydney ended for financial reasons after the 2002 season, Port entered a deal with the Kangaroos, before opting to be a stand-alone club after three unsuccessful years.
"It's a good feeling, there is a brightness about the club," Saultry said ahead of today's Devils-Port Melbourne game at Bellerive.
"There is just a feeling about the boys when they play. We are happy as a club. The decisions are made by our club, we have full control of what goes on.
"We have nobody interfering with anything we do. We give an opportunity to 22 players to play at this level."
AFL Tasmania is considering its future, which could include cutting the Devils' partial alignment with the Kangaroos after 1½ unsuccessful years both on and off the field.
"Tasmanian crowds have dropped off," Saultry said. "They are passionate about their sport and they don't see that passion with bringing these (Kangaroos) players in."
He said initially it was not an easy transition for Port, with the club earning its first wooden spoon in 75 years last season after notching up just three wins. But this year it has been able to recruit former AFL players David Spriggs and Luke Livingston, dual J.J. Liston Medallist David Robins, and a number of VFL players who were disenchanted with playing at clubs with AFL alignments.
This year, Port sits in sixth spot with three wins and a draw, while its reserves side is unbeaten after seven wins.
"We had it (the Kangaroos alignment) for three years and our committee met and said, `Enough was enough'," Saultry said.
"We basically decided halfway through the season we would rather go on our own, and when we did tell them, they (the Kangaroos) spat the dummy and it was a little bit unpleasant.
"Our general manager (Barry Kidd) hit it on the head when we met with the AFL. He said it has to be a good marriage. If it is not, you have got to do something about it.
"AFL clubs are fine if they want to do alignments, but they have to respect us too.
"We had no problems with Sydney. Sydney were enormous to work with, but when you get with these other clubs, who are not as professional, you have hiccups, and that is what happened."
