The 2004 AFL Premiership side, including coach Mark Williams and captain Matthew Primus, after being inducted into Port's Hall of Fame. Image: Michael Sullivan.

The 2004 AFL Premiership team and four past greats have been elevated into the Port Adelaide Football Club’s Hall of Fame at a gala event to launch the 2024 season.

About 550 people were in attendance at the event, held in the Magarey Room at the Adelaide Oval, to launch the campaign and honour the latest Hall of Fame inductees.

Ahead of the start of the AFL Premiership season, the playing list was introduced to the crowd with the club’s eight new recruits being presented their guernseys by members of the club’s Hall of Fame.

As well, the event honoured the 44 legends and three teams or groups who previously made up the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame.

09:52

History in the making: Hall of Fame inductee, 2004 Premiership team | PTV

Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL premiership side, including coach Mark Williams and captain Matthew Primus, have been inducted into the club's hall of fame.

Among the four player inductees on the night were SANFL greats David Brown and Marx Kretschmer, who each won six premierships among various other accolades.

Brown enjoyed his premiership success in the SANFL while also having the unique claim of being part of the inaugural AFL lists of both the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide.

Kretschmer made his name as a utility who played mostly as a defender and at times as a ruck rover in the golden era of the 1950s. He was honoured posthumously following his death in June 2022.

Peter Burgoyne and Brendon Lade were inducted as individuals as well as with their 2004 Premiership teammates.

In a special touch, the Premiership team induction also recognised coach Mark Williams and club captain Matthew Primus, despite injury ruling him out for much of the 2004 season, including the 2004 Grand Final.

20:27

2024 Hall of Fame Inductee: 2004 Premiership Team | PTV

2004 Premiership Team is inducted into the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame.

Chairman David Koch congratulated the latest inductees and thanked them for their service to the club.

“To be inducted into a Hall of Fame is a feat to be cherished. To be inducted into the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame is something extra special,” Mr Koch said.

“Across the club’s inductees are more than 200 premierships, 11 Magarey Medals and more than 60 Best and Fairest awards.

“If you do the maths, on average each one of our inductees has won at least five premierships. These inductees are truly in a class of their own.

“To tonight’s inductees, thank you. Congratulations to you and your families for your incredible achievements and the dedication that you have put into the Port Adelaide Football Club.

“Each one of you has played such a significant role as to why Port Adelaide sits above all in the record books of Australian Football.

“You should all be incredibly proud of the legacy you’ve created for our club.”

The combined Season Launch and Hall of Fame event is an annual tradition with supporters invited to join players and existing members of the Hall of Fame ahead of the start of the AFL Premiership Season.

2024 Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame inductees

David Brown claimed six premierships with Port Adelaide before his career came to an end.

David Brown

Playing career for Port Adelaide: 

Games: 204 (22* AFL / 182 SANFL) 1987-2001

Goals: 174 (18* AFL / 156 SANFL)

6x SANFL Premiership player (1988-89, 1992, 1996, 1998-99)

SANFL Captain (1999-2000)

Port Adelaide Football Club life member (1996)

Jack Oatey Medallist (1996)

*also played 69 AFL games and kicked 55 goals for the Adelaide Crows

Marx Kretschmer won six premierships with Port Adelaide during the club's 'Golden Era'.

Marx Kretschmer

Playing career

Games: 142 (SANFL) 1951-60

Goals: 28 (SANFL)

SANFL Premiership Player (1951, 1954-58)

Port Adelaide Football Club life member (1960)

SANFL life member (1960)

3x State Games for South Australia

Peter Burgoyne played a key role in Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL premiership.

Peter Burgoyne

Playing career

Games: 276 (240 AFL / 36 SANFL) 1996-2009

Goals: 225 (193 AFL / 32 SANFL)

AFL premiership player (2004)

SANFL Premiership player (1998)

AFL pre-season premiership player (2001, 2002)

Port Adelaide Football Club life member (2005)

Showdown Medal (2003)

Port Adelaide Best Finals Player (2007)

Indigenous Team of the Century (2005)

International Rules (1999, 2003)

AFL NT Hall of Fame – Legend (2012)

Premiership ruckman Brendon Lade was one of the AFL's most dominant big men of the 2000s.

Brendon Lade

Playing career: 

Games: 234 (AFL) 1997-2009

Goals: 182 AFL goals

AFL Premiership player (2004)

AFL pre-season Premiership player (2002)

Vice-Captain (2006-2008)

All-Australian (2006, 2007)

Port Adelaide Football Club life member (2005)

John Cahill Medallist (2006)

Fos Williams Medal as best team man (2006)

2x All-Australian (2006, 2007)

AFL Rising Star nominee (Round 7, 1997)

Peter Badcoe Medal (2006)

Port Adelaide Best Finals Player (2003)

Coaching

Richmond ruck/midfield and midfield stoppage coach (2010-2016)

Port Adelaide AFL ruck coach (2017-2018)

St Kilda AFL senior assistant coach (2019-2022)

Western Bulldogs AFL midfield coach (2023-current)

The 2004 premiership was Port Adelaide's greatest achievement since joining the AFL.

2004 Premiership Team including coach Mark Williams and Captain Matthew Primus

Matthew Bishop

Dean Brogan

Peter Burgoyne

Shaun Burgoyne

Josh Carr

Domenic Cassisi

Chad Cornes

Kane Cornes

Stuart Dew

Damien Hardwick

Roger James

Adam Kingsley

Brendon Lade

Josh Mahoney

Brett Montgomery

Byron Pickett

Jarrad Schofield

Toby Thurstans

Warren Tredrea (Acting Captain)

Darryl Wakelin

Gavin Wanganeen

Michael Wilson

Coach: Mark Williams

Captain: Matthew Primus