Daniel Norton, Shane Smith and Darcy Byrne-Jones are presented their Life Membership by Past Players & Officials president, Toby Thurstans. Image: Brooke Bowering.

Leadership player Darcy Byrne-Jones and two long-serving administration staff have been recognised with life membership of the Port Adelaide Football Club at its 2023 Best and Fairest event.

Byrne-Jones was added to the exclusive list of club life members along with club Chief Operating Officer Shane Smith and General Manager – Media Daniel Norton at the annual presentation of the John Cahill and A.R. McLean Medals at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Monday night.

Byrne-Jones was recognised for ten years of service, having arrived at Alberton through the 2013 AFL National Draft.

The 2020 John Cahill Medallist has played 173 AFL games and 43 in the SANFL for Port Adelaide, with the resolute defender reinventing himself in 2023 as a pressure forward.

Smith has given 15 years of loyal service in key senior management roles. In his unanimously supported recommendation, the Life Membership Committee praised Smith for his significant support of the chief executive and board through the challenged of the COVID-19 pandemic and the redevelopment of Alberton Oval in recent years in particular.

Norton started work with the club in April 2008, three months before Smith.

The committee singled out Norton for his consistent high performance, going above and beyond to support the growth of the club and its engagement with members and supporters, in particular through the creation of various club publications and his executive producer roles on a host of recent documentaries including Onward to Victory and The Inaugurals.

“What an honour to be awarded Life Membership of the Port Adelaide Football Club, the greatest sporting club in Australia,” Norton said, speaking on behalf of the trio.

“The Port Adelaide Football Club is special. It’s got soul. It's a community.

“For more than 150 years the Port Adelaide Football Club has been a representation of courage and grit, us against them, skills and perseverance, humility and class. But most importantly, above everything, this club brings people together.

“To be awarded Life Membership is the ultimate honour. I’m so proud to call this club my home.”