Port Adelaide Power and the Penrith Panthers will collaborate in a groundbreaking new cross-code partnership.
Fairfax Media reports that the AFL and NRL clubs have announced the arrangement to share resources and experience, in a bid to compete with the more successful clubs in their respective competitions.
Chairman of Port Adelaide and host of Sunrise David Koch visited the Panthers during the summer, presenting to Panthers staff his ideas on business strategy, and how the Power have improved their position, both financially and in the AFL competition.
Panthers coaching staff including senior coach Ivan Cleary will visit Port Adelaide next month to share ideas football operations, as well as strength and condition training.
Panthers Chief Executive Justin Pascoe said that the visit will allow them to see how and AFL team structures their program as opposed to an NRL team.
“The biggest attraction that both Ivan and myself realised that Port coach Ken Hinkley shares similar values around work ethic, discipline and humility – all the things we pride our football program on as well,” Pascoe said.
Pascoe flagged the possibility of the partnership going beyond football, including employee exchange programs and possible sharing of knowledge.
The clubs believe they have much to learn from each other, with Penrith interested in the Power’s membership growth and corporate capabilities, and Port Adelaide looking to learn more about the business operations of the Panthers Group.
“It is our collective responsibility to make sure that we are opening ourselves up to opportunities that exist across other elite organisations where best practice exists. Port Adelaide represents one of those elite organisations,” Pascoe said.
