Good post, but thought I’d just highlight that the premiership for Port Adelaide wasn’t really built on as much of the start up “concessions” as it was on Port Adelaide’s playing the AFL draft before joining, for which we were slapped with a big fine for something that wasn’t against the rules (as we weren’t an AFL team at the time).Port Adelaide was able to construct the nucleus of their premiership team thanks to the AFL's generous start-up rules.
Not that I'm whining about it... It wasn't as generous as West Coast's virtual state side in the early 90's, but it was still way more than Hawthorn ever got from a pair of priority picks.
The AFL gave Hawthorn a couple of freebie draft picks (used on Buddy Franklin and Beau Dowler) but this doesn't compare to Port poaching Wanganeen (superstar, Brownlow, premiership), Primus (12 games for Fitzroy, not picked up by Brisbane), Paxman (100 games for Fitzroy, not picked up by Brisbane), Cummings (good player, left after just 2 seasons), Bond (34 games for West Coast with only 3 in final season), lasted 3 seasons with Port), Bond (Adelaide, not Port Adelaide), Heaver (ok Melbourne and Carlton player, played just 16 games) and Breuer (good player for Geelong, lasted 3 years) from other clubs as their uncontracted player signings and then locking away their young SANFL talent before anyone could draft them: Tredrea, Lade, Francou, Burgoyne, Wilson, James, Dew, Heuskes (traded from Sydney, 4 seasons), Kingsley (delisted by Essendon without playing a game), Mead, Eagleton (3 seasons), Harley (1 game), Lockwood (50 games), Francis (originally delisted Melbourne and Brisbane)
Don't get me wrong. I liked Port's list build and development to the 2004 flag. I wish every expansion team had followed a similar path. The AFL and Port got it just right. Not too little... not too much... and competitive from day 1.
But it's worth noting that Port have never won a flag since (with a playing list assembled under the same rules as everyone else)
Ive added notes on the above, bolded the key players that stayed out of the draft that was premiership building and not a trade or regular draft. Only Wanganeen from the first team was a valuable addition (Primus and Paxman turned down by Brisbane).