Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson says he is grateful that hosting the Anzac Round fixture has become a traditional Port Adelaide event. Image: Michael Sullivan.

RSL State president Cheryl Cates knows just how deep the meaning of Anzac Day sits in the heart of the Port Adelaide Football Club when she stands at Adelaide Oval looking at the players chosen to make a tribute in a game of football.

"This is a very poignant round (in the AFL). Just to see the looks on the faces of the players when they are out there with the reciting of the Ode of Remembrance and the playing of The Last Post ... it is just wonderful; it brings it home what they are doing and who they are representing," Cates said at the official presentation of Port Adelaide's Anzac Round guernsey on Tuesday.

Port Adelaide will wear a specially designed jumper that carries the Anzac badge, the commanding words of club legend and Military Medallist Bob Quinn, "Always give more than anyone else" and the image of a soldier in reflection.

The Port Adelaide players chosen to wear this commemorative jumper will be part of the club's 18th home tribute match in the AFL Anzac Round, this time against West Coast at Adelaide Oval from 4.05pm Saturday.

"They will be paying their respect," added Cates, "to people who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This includes members of the Port Adelaide Football Club - 130 of whom have served making it one of the biggest clubs in the AFL for service to their country."

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson and club captain Tom Jonas revealed the Anzac jumper at the Largs Bay RSL on Tuesday in front of the memorial dedicated to all Anzac and specifically to Port Adelaide premiership hero and Military Medallist William Roy Drummond.

Matthew Richardson unveils the Anzac Round guernsey with Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas and RSL SA State President Cheryl Cates. Image: Michael Sullivan.

"William, or Roy as he referred to himself, grew up in Largs Bay, played in Port Adelaide’s legendary 1913 and 1914 SANFL premiership and Champions of Australia teams," Richardson recalled.

"Two years later, Roy enlisted in the Australian Army and in 1919 was awarded a Military Medal for his deeds in the 'Battle of Hamel' in July 1918 where he took control of his platoon after almost all other non-commissioned officers were killed.

"Roy reorganised the platoon, led them to their objective that night and assisted the wounded throughout the operation."

Honouring the Anzacs with a football game at home has been a cornerstone to the Port Adelaide fixture since the club advanced to the AFL in 1997.

"We have strong links to the Australian Army that date back to early in the past century," Richardson recalled. "Along with Roy Drummond, we’ve had more than 130 past players and officials serve our country since 1915, 14 of whom we know sadly never returned.

"This will be the 18th time we have hosted an Anzac Round game here in Adelaide. We are immensely proud of this and we are grateful that this has become a traditional Port Adelaide event at Adelaide Oval.

"This is a great privilege which we respect enormously and appreciate it is about so much more than just a football game. Saturday will be special day and we encourage as many of our members and supporters to Adelaide Oval to join us in honouring the fallen and those who serve to protect us.

"(Anzac Day) is a day of celebration and education. It is more than a day. We spend this week telling the amazing stories of the people who have served our country - from Roy Drummond more than a century ago to the current day with the Australian Defence Forces involved in conflicts around the world today.

"We take that role very seriously. It is important for our generation to know those stories and pass on these legends to future generations. We take our role in that very seriously at Port Adelaide where it means a lot to our people."

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Anzac Round press conference - 19 April 2022 | PTV

Matthew Richardson, Tom Jonas and RSL SA/NT State President Cheryl Cates speak to the media at Largs Bay RSL ahead of ANZAC Round

Cates expressed the RSL's appreciation for the Port Adelaide Football Club working beyond the Anzac Round to support today's defence forces. This includes the release this season of a special discounted membership package for veterans and ADF personnel and a program run to support veterans transitioning back into civilian life.

"What the Port Adelaide Football Club has done and continues to do for veterans is really appreciated," said Cates. "We thank them."

Port Adelaide will strike the 18th Peter Badcoe VC Medal that will be presented to the player who best carries the Anzac spirit - skill, courage in adversity, self-sacrifice, teamwork and fair play.

Major Peter Badcoe VC is the last South Australian to have been decorated with the military's highest honour of bravery, the Victoria Cross, for his sacrifice in Vietnam in April 1967.