WHILE Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans will wage an epic battle at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, both clubs are already winning their respective off-field wars.

 

The Swans spent the best part of two decades battling some tough times to establish themselves in Australia's biggest city, but now stand proudly as one of the country's most recognised and successful sporting clubs.

 

Stuart Dew's 10-year career with Port ended back in 2006, with a premiership medallion and a place in the club's top 10 list for games played.

 

He would win another flag with Hawthorn before retiring and has spent the past five years coaching at the Sydney Swans, yet has always kept an eye on his former club.

 

Like many associated with the Power, he had real concerns as they drifted from being a perennial finalist and flag contender to an AFL also-ran.

 

Enjoying September action in all but one year between 2001 and 2007, they secured three minor premierships, two Grand Final appearances and the 2004 flag during that span.

 

But a record loss to Geelong in the 2007 Grand Final was followed by an alarming drop off, finishing 13th the following year.

 

By 2011, the club had slumped to 16th in a 17-team competition, percentage alone separating it from newcomers Gold Coast at the foot of the ladder.

 

Greater Western Sydney's shock victory over Port in round 19, 2012 then led to the dismissal of coach Matthew Primus and president Brett Duncanson.

 

It was rock bottom for the once-proud club, but was also the catalyst for its remarkable turnaround.

 

Under the guidance of chief executive Keith Thomas, chairman David Koch and coach Ken Hinkley, Port's resurgence has been exemplary and well documented.

 

All the while, Dew has been paying attention.

 

"I think like most past players, you keep an eye on your old club," Dew told AFL.com.au.

 

"It's pleasing to see them back playing great, competitive footy.

 

"Obviously they had some down years and no one likes to see their old team down near the bottom.

 

"If you had a choice, you'd rather see them up around the top; just hopefully not this week."

 

On Saturday, Dew will be in the Swans' box aiming to plot the downfall of his former club in a match that rightly enjoys billing as one of the games of the season thus far.

  

One of Hinkley's chief lieutenants during the recovery has been defence coach and former Swan Matthew Nicks.

 

Joining Port as a development coach back in 2011, Nicks says the club looked towards the Harbour City when trying to determine its new direction.

 

"When we (Port) sat down a number of years ago now and talked about culture, Sydney was the team we looked at," he said.

 

"Sydney weren't flying by any means when I first arrived there (via the 1994 draft) and I saw the place turn around really quickly.

 

"That's probably the thing we're beginning to see at Port now.

 

"If you get things right, get the right sort of characters into your club and get everyone on the same page, things change quickly for the good."

 

When he assesses the current make-up of the Power, Dew has the exact same sentiment.

 

"It's not just about the guys on the ground," he said.

 

"In the AFL, it's important to have stability on and off the field, which I think they've managed to do well.

 

"They've made some personnel changes, but ultimately, everyone is on the same page and getting it done."

 

It hasn't all been a breeze for the Power, but some significant moments have helped along the way.

 

In September 2012, just one month after the GWS debacle, Travis Boak resisted heavy overtures from Geelong and signed a fresh two-year deal to remain in Adelaide.

 

At the time he said he was "very excited about what lies ahead", giving a major boost to a club going through an incredibly difficult period.

 

Sure enough, within 12 months Port were knocking off the heavily favoured Collingwood in an elimination final before just falling short in a semi-final against the Cats.

 

Club cultures are regularly discussed in the AFL, with the Swans' culture typically used as one of the examples of doing things the right way.

 

"I think Sydney have nailed what culture is," Nicks said.

 

Dew believes the Power are also heading in the right direction.

 

"A good indication of a group is, when you're not winning, you're still able to keep your top players together," Dew said.

 

"Particularly being an interstate club, where not many are from South Australia.

 

"When they weren't winning, a lot of interstate players still committed, so obviously there's a good feeling around the club and that's now translated on the field."

 

The winner of Saturday's clash will likely find themselves right at the top of premiership betting.

 

Fiercely committed to the cause in Sydney, Dew was asked what would be his preferred Grand Final, if the Swans weren't able to get there.

 

"My old teams are Port and Hawthorn, so if we weren't to make the Grand Final, it'd be good to see a Port-Hawthorn Grand Final," he said.

 

"I'd just go down to the winner's rooms. You don't want to deal with the runners-up."

 

He was kidding, but the turnarounds enjoyed by both the Swans and Power has been no joke.

 

 

Twitter: @AFL_JD