New Port Adelaide recruit Gemma Houghton visited Alberton Oval on Tuesday, amid the announcement of her commitment to join Port Adelaide in the NAB AFLW.

Speaking with the Adelaide press pack for the first time, the former Fremantle Docker spoke of her excitement to join the historic club.

“I’ve always admired the club, it’s a successful club and I’m just really excited to be here and can’t wait to be part of the family,” Houghton said.

“(After) six years at Fremantle, I was just looking for a change and a new challenge and looking at the list, the coach and players like Erin (Phillips) and Ange Foley already on the list, I just wanted to come over and be part of the team.”

Houghton arrived on Monday night for a whirlwind, 24-hour visit to Adelaide to meet head coach Lauren Arnell, Head of AFLW Juliet Haslam, Operations Manager Rachael Sporn and List Manager Naomi Maidment.

Houghton even took a brief opportunity to sit down face-to-face and catch up with fellow forward Phillips for the first time as teammates.

“I feel so welcomed by Erin already – she was already laughing and joking about playing social basketball, golf and lawn bowls together during pre-season,” said Houghton.

“I think everyone would look up to Erin in some sort of way. Obviously, myself being a cross-coder from basketball, I knew her through basketball and just to now watch her play footy and see how talented and incredible she is, I’m excited that she’s not the opposition and she’s on the same team.”

Not long after her arrival at Alberton, Houghton was greeted warmly by men’s head coach Ken Hinkley and senior player Travis Boak, with the pair quipping that she looked better in teal.

As a Port Adelaide fan throughout her youth, Houghton was asked by the media why a Western Australian native selected a South Australian team.

“As a child, I loved the colour teal and I really admired Chad Wingard so I grew up supporting him,” she recalled.

Houghton’s partner will join her in the move to Adelaide, with negotiations already underway about welcoming a new addition to their family.

“I’ve asked if I can get a puppy but at this stage it’s a no, so we’ll have to wait and see,” she laughed.

Sat alongside Houghton in their first press conference together, Arnell was full of praise for her newest recruit.

“Gemma has been fantastic…you can see from our signings so far that we’ve got this wonderful crop of people together,” Arnell said.

“Her involvement on and off the field will be so exciting. She is a natural leader.”