Back in black Port Adelaide aims to intimidate

PORT Adelaide hopes the club's new 'back in black' home jumper will create an intimidatory feel akin to that of the old Port 'prison bars' guernsey.

The new guernsey, dubbed the Port Adelaide version of the South Australian state strip, is based heavily on the design created by seven-year-old competition winner Lucy Burford.

The schoolgirl's jumper, which Port Adelaide first wore against West Coast in round 16 this season, was intended to be a one-off but chief executive Mark Haysman said the design had proved so popular the club decided to introduce it permanently.
 
"We know the players love this guernsey. They walk taller in it and feel stronger in it and in time I think this guernsey will create the same sort of intimidatory feel that the old prison bars of Port Adelaide used to," Haysman said on Wednesday.

"It's very much a long-term play and we don't anticipate changing our home guernsey again for many, many years - if ever. We think in time that this will become one of the strongest and most popular guernseys in the AFL."

Port Adelaide expects to don the new look in at least 18 games next season, with a white version of the same strip to be used as the club's clash jumper.

The Power have elevated their existing home guernsey, worn in the club's inaugural premiership in 2004, to special occasion status.

The guernsey will only be worn in future heritage rounds or in selected games against 2004 grand finalists, the Brisbane Lions.

The club has also scrapped the guernsey design competition which brought about the striking new strip.

Haysman admitted it was ironic the Power's most popular strip had been designed by a child.

"You do these things [hold competitions] and you're never sure what's quite going to come from them. It just shows it's important to keep and open mind."

The Power are also closing in on a new major sponsor to appear on the guernsey in place of former joint-major sponsor, Bianco.