Opinion Is the Showdown the Biggest Rivalry?

[Freofalcon]

You clearly don't know much about A Song of Ice and Fire. The Targaryens are the rightful heirs to the thrones. They were the ones that conquered the kingdoms, united them under their rule and built the Iron Throne and the Red Keep. That's why Danny is trying to get the throne back. It was her family's rightful place for a long, long time. But their bloodline spoiled, they went mad, and the Starks and the Baeratheons rose up against them and destroyed the Targaryens. It's only now that the Targaryens are starting to sort their shit out with 2 main character heirs still surviving and rising in power.

So I would say that Port Adelaide are the Targaryens. Old and historically powerful. And obsessed with past glories. But they went mad (lying and breaking their word to the SANFL and trying to sneak themselves into the AFL in 1990) and so a rebellion was raised against them, an alliance was formed to reign in their place. That would make the Crows the men of the north, which would make sense as the men of the Nights Watch are called "crows".

I don't see how you can claim that Port are the "Rightful heir to the throne (1990 AFL attempt)". In 1990 the SANFL brought all the clubs together and got them to agree that no SANFL team would join the AFL until at least 1993. Port, along with every other club promised they would not join the AFL for 3 years. But then Port lied and went back on their word, and made a secret deal with the AFL to try and sneak themselves into the AFL. As Port had betrayed the SANFL the SANFL took legal action against them, rightfully got their attempt stopped and formed a composite team instead.

 

[Iron]

My Game of Thrones analogy. (probably belongs in bay 13 but I will try my luck)


Port Adelaide = House Baeratheon.

Rightful heir to the throne (1990 AFL attempt),

Small group, not well supported (Pre 2013).

On the rise with ambition and talent.


Crows = House Lannister

Financially well off,

Known for incest between family members (SANFL Composite Team),

Known for deceit and cover up (Tippetgate).


As you can see both teams don't like each other much.

I have another analogy:

Port = Hodor. Loud, a little bit simple. Doesn't dress well but for the most part you ignore him.

 

[Papa G]

I know **** all about the Game of Thrones, but Port Adelaide is football. Everybody else is a "who,are the dickheads in Got?"

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Must admit - yesterdays game was a fantastic game to watch - but i think you have to give the Crows supporters a bit of credit - not knocking Port - because i dont mind them as well

But when the Crows 1st came into the comp - with Modra up and about- those Sunday twilight games they had - at Football Park - in front of full houses - god they were enjoyable to watch - the football - the atmosphere - use to turn the volume down - and listen to Roger Wills and his sidekick call the game - and boy did those 2 pump up the Crows

And for what it is worth - beating Adelaide in Adelaide ( when theve got a half decent team) is the hardest road trip - by the length of the Randwick straight

 

[estibador]

I know **** all about the Game of Thrones...

How do you survive in modern society?

 

[Angus Young]

Geelong/Hawks have been better games but the port/crows atmopshere is insane. if they made the stadium 80,000 they would jam pack it. I would like to see the ticket allocation 50/50...

 

[Roo Lives Again]

remember this game?



Balmes fifth season as coach, his second flag in a strong league.

What a great game that was and Norwood the only team to win the flag from 5th position! incredible year for the mighty legs!

 

[Papa G]

What a great game that was and Norwood the only team to win the flag from 5th position! incredible year for the mighty legs!

It was great when Norwood were a relevant club. Good times.

 

[King Elvis]

Aside from the fact they can suck my balls, I would've thought they'd be considered pretty relevant over the last five years.

 

[aCunningPlan]

the bogans get into it.

Says the Queenslander...

 

[rEALdEAL86]

dont have foxtel, wish i could of watched me a showdown! instead i had to watch a collingwood/carlton 'blockbuster' snoozfest...turned it off after the 1st quarter. Why cant channel 7 stop circle jerking over victorian team games, dull atmosphere and a sh#t load of empty seats

 

[Big Sauce 21]

Says the Queenslander...

Yes

 

[Alberton]

I have another analogy:

Port = Hodor. Loud, a little bit simple. Doesn't dress well but for the most part you ignore him.

Does that make the SANFL Bran Stark?
Always trying to get into our heads and can't stand on his own two feet?

BTW Everyone loves Hodor.

 

[estibador]

Does that make the SANFL Bran Stark?
Always trying to get into our heads and can't stand on his own two feet?

BTW Everyone loves Hodor.

Surely Hinkley is Bran - he's been able to get inside Hodor's head and turn him into a killing machine.

 

[estibador]

The main difference between the Showdown and Derby is that it feels as if the fans in the derby almost try and play it down, I mean it's still a strong rivalry but we kind of see it as an insult to the opposition when we act as if it's no bigger than a normal game.

Traditionally it's been West Coast playing it down saying it's our Grand Final and that we have no flags so we're not relevant to them. But lately since we've started winning a majority of the derbies some of our fans have adopted the same attitude, like winning a derby is no big deal.

We only really act like that to mock eagles fans for the smug way they used to carry on.

I make no secret of the fact that I hate losing to the eagles far more than any other team. Thankfully I've almost forgotten what it feels like.

 

[DangerSloane]

I still think Essendon v Carlton is the biggest and best rivalry.

LOL
Essendon v Hawthorn bigger rivalry
Collignwood v Carlton bigger rivalry

Hell I'll even say Richmond v Carlton is a bigger rivalry.

 

[Engimal]

Hawks v Geelong is the biggest rivalry in the AFL. Maybe less so this year, but for a long while it was a clear #1.

 

[DangerSloane]

The round 2 Showdown was arranged better than today's. We didn't have some 'stage' at the northern end that reduced the capacity, & we don't have 'electro pop' sound effects before each quarter. Plus the 'Never Tear Us Apart' theme is awesome.

So Port home Showdowns >>>>>> crows home showdowns.

Sorry we brought a world class act, while you rehash a 30 year old song which just happens to rhyme with:

"You'll never, never tear up our tarps...."

 

[DangerSloane]

Have you missed every Hawthorn/Geelong game for the past decade?

Port/Crows is a great rivalry but it is not in the same ballpark as Geelong vs Hawthorn. Not even remotely close in terms of the quality of game.

What were Hawks v Geelong rivalries like in the late 90s?

They both sucked...?

Whereas the Crows v Port rivalry doesnt have a down period and an up period. Its consistent.

 

[DangerSloane]

We showed up in the final in WA when Walker should have got a free kick near the end of the game to give us a chance of winning.

We showed up last year to beat Richmond.

Last year you drunkenly stumbled into the finals and passed out on Richmond, who are now in the same shithole you are.

If you want irrelevant - head down to Princess Park.

 

[kickazz]

So I went along on Sunday to my first Showdown. Pretty impressed with the venue, really enjoyed the hill and surrounding facilities. Got to see some cracking goals at that end of the ground too - does the Gavin Wanganeen stand need to be renamed to Eddie Betts? ;-p

I think what would really top it off though is a bi-partisan crowd. I understand there would be some work that would need to go into it regardng membership packages, sponsorships and so-on, but it would be great to at least trial it for a year where there is a 50-50 split in the crowd. In a close game it would just be insane. and surley could only build the rivalry further.

 

[estibador]

I think what would really top it off though is a bi-partisan crowd. I understand there would be some work that would need to go into it regardng membership packages, sponsorships and so-on, but it would be great to at least trial it for a year where there is a 50-50 split in the crowd. In a close game it would just be insane. and surley could only build the rivalry further.

I've wondered about this for derbies too now that we've also pretty much sold out our membership. Whether they could do something whereby half the members get the first derby and the other half the second, and vice versa for the opposition.

As long as they split the oval down the middle instead of sprinkling people around anywhere - nothing worse than getting stuck in a bay that's half full of eagles supporters.

 

[nameless]

I wish the Freo vs. West Coast rivalry was as intense as the Showdown.

For too long players and coaches threw out the old "it's only a game" line (which it may be), but I feel it hurt the rivalry. I don't really care much about playing Freo because I don't see the players getting up for it, or there being much hype (when I was in Perth), it seemed very forced hype, but the Showdown seems genuine.

Maybe it's a case of Freo being so poor early (not having a go) where it kind of took the wind out of the sails?

 

[estibador]

Maybe it's a case of Freo being so poor early (not having a go) where it kind of took the wind out of the sails?

Dunno, the derby hatred peaked in the mid 00's which was after that. If anything the fact the eagles have been so poor since then has sucked some of the life out of it.

The last 18 derbies are 14-4 in our favour, which makes it hard for half the town to get too excited about them.

 

[nameless]

Dunno, the derby hatred peaked in the mid 00's which was after that. If anything the fact the eagles have been so poor since then has sucked some of the life out of it.

The last 18 derbies are 14-4 in our favour, which makes it hard for half the town to get too excited about them.

Yeah that's a good point - both teams have rarely been at the top at the same time.

But I don't feel as though that's affected the Showdown too much.