TOUGH on-baller Nick Moore will be the next Port Adelaide SANFL player to wear the number one prison-bar guernsey.
In October, Moore was awarded the A.R. McLean Medal – the accolade given to the club’s best and fairest player in the SANFL competition, capping off a stellar year for the fearless midfielder.
New Magpies’ coach Hamish Hartlett was thrilled to see Moore appointed the next SANFL captain, an honour he said he more than deserves.
“Nick, as a person and a player, is so committed,” Hartlett said.
“He will get to training after a long day at work and he’s the one that brings the energy and intensity and leads by example with his work ethic. He is such an easy-going guy but has this motivation to be so good on the football field.”
AFL development coach and former SANFL head coach Tyson Goldsack echoed Hartlett’s sentiment.
“Nick's done the work and earned the right to win the awards and to be the captain of the Magpies,” Goldsack said.
“He won't leave any stone unturned and will give everything of himself. If there's a person to follow on the ground and at training, that's Nick Moore.
“He doesn’t know how good he is. As a player, he is the kind of guy I can turn to and say ‘I need you to do this’ and I know it will get done. “
“We’ve given him the opportunity that he's earned.”
A heart and soul player, the 24-year-old has found his place at Alberton over the last two seasons following a stint with Woodville-West Torrens, with his on-field tenacity and never-give-in attitude becoming trademarks of his game.
He succeeds retiring captain Cam Sutcliffe, who led the side for three seasons after a 113-game AFL career across Fremantle and Port Adelaide.
Moore said receiving the honour of captaincy means so much to both him and his family.
“It sort of hasn’t really sunk in properly,” Moore said.
“Family and friends that have been Port supporters their whole life have explained it to me how important it is and how much of an achievement it is, so I just can’t wait.
“Just getting the opportunity (to play at Port Adelaide) was a big thing for me and from there, getting confidence and belief in myself made everything a lot easier and playing consistent league footy is the best thing that could happen for me.
“Seeing all the memorabilia and all the trophies at Port Adelaide, it’s so amazing how powerful and strong this club is and to put on the number one is unbelievable.”
Moore let his football do the talking in 2023, leading the club for tackles and ranking second in the competition with a total of 152 or 8.9 per game on average.
He also averaged 17 disposals and four clearances per game, and booted 12 goals for the season, including kicking three majors in a best-on-ground showing against West Adelaide in Round 11.
Port Adelaide will open its SANFL season on Friday, 29 March in an away fixture against Glenelg.
