Port Adelaide has been assured by its apparel manufacturer ISC that a fresh batch of AFL-standard jumpers can be produced in just five days, clearing the path for the Power to wear its traditional black-and-white prison bar guernsey in Sunday's elimination final clash with Richmond.
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Having been given permission by the AFL late on Monday afternoon to don its traditional colours having after initially being directed to play in its white clash jumper against the Tigers, Port was told it could appear in the guernsey, still worn by the Port Magpies.
Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas - who had driven the club's push after being angered at the league's initial decision - said it was a satisfactory outcome, despite maintaining that the the Power would ideally have worn their black home jumper which contains teal and white Vs.
"On behalf of the club I want to reiterate our thanks to the AFL for their willingness to seek a satisfactory resolution and to Collingwood for their pragmatic approach to our prison bar guernsey in the best interests of Sunday's final," Thomas said in a statement released on the club's website.
"And I extend a massive thanks to our apparel supplier ISC for their ability to produce these guernseys at such short notice. Their team is working around the clock to get these guernseys produced in time and we are very grateful for their effort," Thomas said.
"To be able to wear our famous guernsey again on the national stage especially in the first historic AFL final at the Adelaide Oval is a great opportunity and will fill our community with enormous pride.
"Ironically the strip, with white shorts, will resemble the exact uniform worn by our 1965 SANFL premiership team, the last premiership won by Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval.
"Fittingly, our players will run out in this strip from the Geof Motley race who of course captained that 1965 team. It will be a great celebration of our 'One Club' mantra with the Power in the AFL and the Magpies in the SANFL."
Richmond will wear its traditional jumper - black with a yellow sash and predominantly black back - despite finishing below Port Adelaide, and having worn its own clash strip - a variation on its main guernsey featuring yellow side panels - in previous away games against Port.
The Tigers' CEO Brendon Gale last night tweeted a picture of the club's clash jumper, indicating that the club would have been comfortable wearing that strip.
