A GROUP of more than 30 Port Adelaide past players, their partners and children were welcomed to the club last week for a special afternoon at Alberton Oval.  

The session was designed for past players and their families to strengthen their ongoing connection with the club and to learn more about the father-son/daughter playing pathways.  

Children aged from five to 15 and their parents listened to presentations from Next Generation Academy coaches Naomi Maidment and Justin Westhoff, before enjoying lunch upstairs at The Precinct.  

The group watched on from the stands as the AFL side trained, before joining in kicking, marking and handball drills with AFLW players Sachi Syme, Ange Foley, Alex Ballard, Georgia Jaques and Matilda Scholz, as well as AFL players Lachie Jones, Ryan Burton, Kane Farrell, Willem Drew and Travis Boak. 

Stakeholder relations manager and past player David Hutton was the driving force behind the day, saying it went off without a hitch. 

“Anything we can do to keep our past players connected with our club is a great thing,” he said. 

“I think this really gives us a great foundation to build on and grow in future, and we’ve received strong support from the kids and families. 

“We have 153 years of history at Port Adelaide and it’s important to us to always acknowledge the people that have helped us get to where we are. 

“I’ve had lots of texts from past players since the session, saying their kids absolutely loved the day and can’t wait to do it again.” 

The past players in attendance included former AFL player Jacob Surjan, past SANFL footballers Jeremy Clayton, Corey Ah Chee, Troy Bond and Mickey O’Brien, as well as Shaun Burgoyne’s children supported by their mum, Amy.