PORT ADELAIDE defenders Hamish Hartlett and Joel Garner have been notified that they will not be offered new contracts by the club for 2022.
Hartlett has played 193 games and booted 77 goals since his debut in the Round 4 win over Hawthorn in 2009.
The 31-year-old arrived at Alberton with the fourth pick in the 2008 AFL National Draft, winning the 2011 Gavin Wanganeen Medal as best player under 21.
Among his other accolades, Hartlett is a Showdown Medallist (2014) and Peter Badcoe Medallist (2013) and was given life membership of the Port Adelaide Football Club in 2018.
A vice-captain in 2016 and in the 2019 and 2020 seasons and a member of the leadership group in 2021, Hartlett played all 19 games last season before a series of injuries restricted him to just 10 in the AFL this year.
Port Adelaide List Manager, Jason Cripps thanked him for his service.
“Hamish has been a much-loved character at the club for a long time and it is difficult to say farewell,” Cripps said.
“He has shown incredible resilience to come back from a number of injuries, most notably a serious knee injury in 2018, and has always put the team first.
“Hamish has been a key leader in our football group, always willing to share his experience and to support the development of our younger players.
“It is because of the need to continue to develop our group that we make the tough call regarding Hamish’s future at the club and we wish him well in football and in life.”
Garner has played four AFL games for the club, all in 2019, after making his debut in the Round 9 win over the Gold Coast.
The composed left footer was unable to break back into the side and struggled for opportunity in 2020 due to the club’s inability to participate at SANFL level.
Garner was drafted to the club with the 60th pick in the 2017 AFL National Draft and has been a consistent performer at SANFL level for the club, having registered 44 games and 13 goals.
The 22-year-old also won the Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy as the club’s most courageous player in the SANFL in 2019.
“Joel has become a victim of the depth we have in our backline, which has made it hard for him to get opportunities at AFL level,” said Cripps.
“He has been a player that has given everything he has to our club, often providing important leadership to a young and inexperienced SANFL team.
“With our season coming to an end we have made the decision to part ways with Joel and allow him to focus on what is next in his career. We wish him every success with that next step and thank him for his dedication over the past four seasons.”
Tyson Goldsack will also not be offered a playing contract for 2022, instead moving into a full-time role as a development coach.
