It was barely more than a month ago that Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas presented to his 17 AFL rivals the club's blueprint for reinventing the famous club and its back-to-the-future journey to the Adelaide Oval.

Thomas had been instructed to outline the Power's international search to create a cauldron in its own backyard. Whether the clubs took notice or notes remains unclear but a better way of explaining just how Port Adelaide has captured the sporting imagination of Australians would have been to visit its home ground as it hosted its first AFL final.

Supporters of Richmond and Port Adelaide enjoy the atmosphere at the elimination final on Sunday. Credit:Getty Images

Clearly the result was a triumph for the club but it was also a salient lesson for every club outside South Australia. Even the more popular Adelaide Crows have not managed to create such a potent sporting experience.

It would come as no surprise to anyone that the Sydney-Fremantle clash was pale by comparison. The ANZ Stadium's current contract with the AFL does not run out for another two seasons of finals and although the Swans would clearly prefer to play those matches at the SCG that will only happen in the unlikely event of an NRL final clash.