Over the past 150 years the Port Adelaide Football Club has had a strong connection to the community, in particular the Defence community.

The Port Adelaide Football Club had many players suiting up for the club, whilst also serving in the military to protect Australia. One of these players was Bob Quinn who epitomises what it means to be a Port Adelaide player.

Quinn was a captain, three-time premiership player, four-time best and fairest and two-time leading goalkicker for Port Adelaide, as well as a two-time Magarey Medal winner. 

On field, Quinn’s legacy was revered by many and off field he is known as the club’s greatest war hero. His devotion, courage and leadership in the ‘Battle of Tobruk’ earned him a Military Medal in 1943.

The relationship with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been consistent and in recent years the club has implemented programs that support Defence personnel and their families.

In 2017, the club commenced a partnership with Naval Group Australia which introduced Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through the club’s Power Community Youth Program to primary school students across the state. This relationship has provided great awareness to the Future Submarine Program in South Australia.

The Port Adelaide Football Club also continues to host the Anzac Cup Challenge, which features a curtain-raiser between the Australian Defence Force Australian Rules All-Stars and the Australian Combined Emergency Services.

In 2019, the Port Adelaide Football Club entered an agreement with the ADF, which formalised the relationship with the ADF Australian Rules, to continue to support each other’s initiatives.