TRIPLE PREMIERSHIP player Shaun Hart will join Port Adelaide as the club’s new director of coaching after a five-year coaching stint with the Gold Coast Suns.

He fills the void left by erstwhile coaching director Alan Richardson, who was appointed senior coach of St Kilda late last year.

Hart comes to the club with a distinguished playing career at Brisbane over 15 seasons, which netted him three premiership medallions and a Norm Smith Medal.

Appointed senior coach of Broadbeach in the then-Queensland Australian Football League in 2008, he went on to work as an assistant at the Suns during that club’s germination in the TAC Cup and VFL in 2008 and 2009 and then as a head of development and coach of their NEAFL side up until his departure.

In taking on the reformulated position of director of coaching, Hart’s primary focus will be on the professional development of Port’s line and development coaches and working with the club’s senior playing leadership, particularly captain Travis Boak and vice-captain Brad Ebert, on developing the culture of the playing group.

Healthy Power switches on

It is a slightly reformulated role from the one left behind by Richardson, with returned midfield manager Phil Walsh taking on more of the strategic planning responsibility within the football department.

Both will assist senior coach Ken Hinkley in running the club’s football program throughout 2014 and beyond.

It is a coup signing for the club, with Hinkley re-establishing his partnership with Hart from their time spent at the Gold Coast where Hinkley worked as a senior assistant to Guy McKenna prior to becoming Port Adelaide’s senior coach.

“When I made the move from Geelong to the Gold Coast I got to meet and work with Shaun and it’s been one of the best connections that I’ve made in football,” Hinkley told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“You learn in this game that a person’s qualities come through very quickly and Shaun’s quality of character is first class, there’s no doubt about that.

“He’s a really impressive person who is all about helping people. Any time something needs to be done to help someone, Shaun is the first to put his hand up whether they’re a player or a coach or a person on the street.

“That’s Shaun Hart and that’s why he’s the perfect fit for us.”

Hart will become an integral part of Port Adelaide’s AFL program with the Power and SANFL League and Academy coaches Garry Hocking and Jacob Surjan.

Hinkley’s emphasis on appointing quality characters to senior roles in the football department was an important part of the Power’s resurgence in 2013.

Whether it was the tandem of Hinkley and Richardson at the helm of the football program, the promotion of rated development coach Matthew Nicks to take responsibility of the defensive lines last year or through the appointment of Travis Boak to the club’s captaincy, the Power has been firmly focussed on getting the right person for the right job.

Hart’s background and experience will be important for continuing that trend into 2014, according to Hinkley.

“He’ll help our AFL program and SANFL programs, emerging coaches like Tyson Edwards and Jacob Surjan right through to experienced coaches like Phil Walsh and myself,” Hinkley said.

“One of the key messages from my time at Geelong was you can never have enough character in your footy club and we have an exceptional person coming into our club.

“We’re very comfortable with what he’ll bring for us.”

Shaun Hart has joined the club in 2014, make sure you do to. Purchase an 11-game reserved seat or Essential Power membership to guarantee your place at the historic first game at the new Adelaide Oval in 2014 against the Crows at weareportadelaide.com.au.

Hart is equally excited to reacquaint himself with Hinkley and the new challenge of his new role with the Power.

“There’s a lot of excitement about joining Port Adelaide and working again with Ken Hinkley,” Hart said.

“I’ve seen in the last 12 months just how far the team has progressed and I’m pleased to be part of the coaching team that’s looking to take the group to the next level."