Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says hatred between his Crows and Port Adelaide should be harnessed for the good of the AFL.
Sanderson says Port remain Adelaide’s most-hated opponent, while his Power counterpart Matthew Primus believes bitterness between the arch rivals is beneficial.
Saturday night’s AAMI Stadium encounter between the South Australian clubs is a Port Adelaide home game, with the Power embarking on an edgy promotional campaign taunting Crows supporters.
Adverts have ridiculed Crows fans as a knitting needle brigade and a fair weather support mob, while also sarcastically congratulating Adelaide on the match being their 500th game – with the kicker: “Glad you could join us for our 2948th”.
The clubs midweek also denied they were sending the wrong message by returning to the scene of a drunken bar-room brawl between Port and Crows players a decade ago for a promotion.
“It’s a big rivalry – both clubs love it,” Primus told reporters on Friday.
“We want to reinvigorate the rivalry and how big these games are, not just for the players but for the state.
“There has been a little bit of by-play, a bit of niggle between the clubs.
“And I think that is great – if that makes a few more thousand come out to watch the game, then that is fantastic.”
Sanderson, in his first year as Crows coach, said the rivalry with Port should be embraced.
“There is that little bit of extra bite about beating Port,” Sanderson told reporters on Friday.
“(Crows onballer) Rory Sloane said this week ‘we certainly hate Port, but we hate every team – it’s just we hate Port just a little bit more’.
“The banter this week between our fan bases has been great. It is just a great rivalry which I think we should always build up.
“We’re looking forward to it almost more than any other game this year.”
Sanderson’s Crows, in fifth spot with just three losses this season, enter the match firm favourites against a 15th-placed Port side weakened by injuries.
“There are two ways to look at it: we are still going to get four points if we win,” Sanderson said.
“But for us, a chance to knock off our rivals – it’s a great opportunity for us to go out and play well in a high-pressured game and the Showdowns always present a great challenge for both clubs because it feels like there is so much riding on it.”