Port Adelaide’s AFLW team will wear the club’s heritage Prison Bar guernsey in Showdown III. Image: Matt Sampson.

IN a landmark moment, Port Adelaide’s AFLW team will wear the club’s heritage Prison Bar guernsey in the first AFLW Showdown to be held at Alberton Oval. 

The Power will host Adelaide in Round 1 of the 2024 season, for the third instalment of one of the biggest, and most fierce, sporting club rivalries in the country. 

Held under lights on Saturday, August 31, the night-time blockbuster will see the women wear a guernsey that holds significant historical value, while marking the beginning of Port Adelaide’s third season in the league. 

Worn by Port Adelaide’s SANFL team for more than 120 years, the Prison Bar guernsey continues to be an important symbol of the club's proud heritage, now in the AFL and AFLW competitions.  

AFLW captain Janelle Cuthbertson feels honoured to wear the Prison Bars, and values the meaning behind it. 

The Prison Bar guernsey continues to be an important symbol of the club's proud heritage, with Port Adelaide's AFLW team opening its next chapter. Image: Matt Sampson.

“It is with an enormous sense of pride and responsibility that we will wear the Prison Bar guernsey for our home Showdown this year,” Cuthbertson said. 

“As a playing group, we embrace the history of this club and are so proud to honour those who came before us by wearing this guernsey. 

“This guernsey represents Port Adelaide's incredible history of sustained success in the SANFL that ultimately saw the club elevated to the national stage. Without the success in this guernsey, both our men's and women's teams wouldn't be playing in the national competition today. That is not lost on our playing group. 

“We know how much the jumper means to the wider Port Adelaide community and we can’t wait to run out wearing it in Round 1 at Alberton Oval.” 

Captain Janelle Cuthbertson says she feels honoured to wear the iconic guernsey. Image: Matt Sampson.

Port Adelaide Chief Executive Matthew Richardson said to see the AFLW team wear the guernsey will be another important moment for the club. 

“The Prison Bar guernsey is a significant part of our club heritage and for our AFLW team to wear it for the first time at Alberton Oval will be a special moment that I know our players are greatly looking forward to,” Mr Richardson said. 

“For our AFLW team to wear the guernsey for the first time brings our three football programs together and reinforces the significance of this guernsey for our club and our people.” 

The AFL side will once again wear the Prison Bars in Round 23 against the Crows, with Port Adelaide AFL captain Connor Rozee proud to see the club united by the Prison Bars. 

“We can’t wait to wear the Prison Bar guernsey again this year,” Rozee said. 

“It’s a symbol of where we have come from, and it’s such a privilege to pay respect to that history.  

“I am really excited to watch our AFLW team wear the Prison Bars and look forward to supporting them in the season ahead.” 

The new AFLW Prison Bar guernseys can be ordered online, with the AFL range already available in-store. AFLW Prison Bar guernseys will be shipped from August 21. 

AFLW tickets for the 2024 season go on sale at 10am ACST today for members and 2pm for the general public.