MITCHELL QUINN has been coming to Alberton Oval since he can remember, it has been his family's home away from home for generations, but only recently has he visited to cut the hallowed grass.
Every lap on the mower around the iconic ground is a reminder of his grandfather Bob, Port Adelaide’s greatest Anzac.
"He’s my hero," said Mr Quinn, who has spent hours this week toiling in the shadows of the Robert B. Quinn M.M. Grandstand as a turf manager at Alberton.
"I’m still in awe of it sometimes. I spent a lot of time here growing up but even just sitting in the stand is special. Every time I turn around and look at it, I think of Papa."
Quinn played for Port Adelaide in the SANFL from 1933 to 1947 and captained and coached the club. He twice won the Magarey Medal, either side of his military service, and was the state's captain and coach from 1945-47.
His courage under fire at the Siege of Tobruk in 1941, for which he earned the Military Medal, has inspired generations of Port Adelaide players.
The club will this afternoon honour Quinn whose words "always give more than anyone else" are stitched inside the team’s Anzac Round jumper.
"I’m lucky enough to share my middle name, Berrima, with Pa and that’s something special I’ll always have," Mr Quinn said.
The name is a reference to the SS Berima, a passenger liner Bob’s father and founding Port Adelaide player John Quinn, who captained the club in 1904 and 1905, worked on as a wharf labourer.
"The family home backed onto the Port River and Pa and his brothers used to row the sail-about across from Birkenhead and pile up the wharf and walk to training," Mr Quinn said.
"Pa was one of nine kids so it was a busy household back in the day.
"We had a reunion here a couple of years ago because our whole family aligns closely with the club. We’ve had great uncles and great aunties who have all been involved. It’s amazing.
"The Williams’ and the Eberts and our family… not many clubs around the place have such a special history."
Mr Quinn said his family would be forever grateful for the way Port Adelaide embraced his grandfather’s legacy.
"A lot of fuss has been made over him, especially in the past decade, but I don’ see him as anything other than my grandpa," he said.
"We can’t thank the club enough for what they do for our family.’’
