Jeff Potter was a Hall of Famer, premiership hero and one of South Australian football's most-admired players.

JEFF POTTER was almost lost to Port Adelaide as soon as he arrived at Alberton.

"Funny story that one," Potter would say of his introduction to SANFL league football after leaving Mount Gambier in 1959 to fill the big boots of a legend, Fos Williams.

"I turned up for training at Alberton Oval," Potter recalled, "and one of the trainers said, 'The colts train tomorrow night; come back then'."

Potter was 17. And as he had been playing A-grade football against men since he was 15, he was not expecting to step back to junior football on reaching the city.

"Good thing," added Potter, "(club boss) 'Big Bob' (McLean) was nearby and yelled out, 'Where do you think you are going? Get back in here!'"

Potter had been playing A-grade football from age 15 before he joined Port Adelaide.

The next time Potter left Alberton Oval for a return to country football - to coach at Broken Hill for three years - in 1971, he was one of Port Adelaide's greatest and one of the most-admired footballers in South Australia.

Potter died - at the age of 83 - on March 26. He was remembered with affection by his family at a private funeral recently. Today, at Alberton Oval, the Port Adelaide family will honour one of its finest.

"Talented, skilful and courageous," says Port Adelaide legend and team-mate John Cahill. "Always vibrant and happy ... a wonderful person."

In direct contrast to the image of footballers whipped into a frenzy to run through brick walls, Potter was the calm figure - perhaps before his time too - by seeking a more relaxed approach before sporting battle. He conserved his energy for the field.

"Jeff loved to read comics before every game," recalled Cahill.

Potter will be remembered as a calm, happy and talented man.

Potter played 235 league games for Port Adelaide after a three-game stint in the B-grade teams at Alberton in 1959. He had been recommended to McLean by premiership ruckman Peter Marrett as Port Adelaide started life beyond Fos Williams in 1959, the season that ended with the sixth consecutive SANFL league premiership.

It was the first of four flags for Potter (along with 1961, 1963 and 1965). 

He kicked 289 goals, claiming the club's leading goalkicker title in 1964 with 30 goals.

"I missed more than I kicked," recalled Potter, downplaying his kicking skills that were also noted for his strategic kicks along the boundary line to burn time on the clock.

"The 1964 count was mostly goals when I was the resting rover. In those days, you went to the forward pocket (there was no interchange bench) and you were expected to kick goals."

Potter finished his career with four flags, four best-and-fairest crowns, Hall of Fame status and selection in the club's Greatest Team (1870-2000).

Potter also represented South Australia 23 times in State battles, including the 1963 classic at the MCG where South Australia ended a four-decade drought by beating the Big V by seven points.

Potter thrived in that State game in a demanding duel with Victorian great Kevin Murray. His unflinching style as a rover playing in sometimes brutal contests earned the ultimate admiration of Fos Williams who named Potter among those in his best-ever line-up from his playing and coaching era at Port Adelaide.

"Jeff kept the reputation of Port Adelaide rovers to the highest standard," Williams said. "He was built like a tank and had great endurance."

Potter came to Alberton Oval that well-remembered night in 1959 with no connection to Port Adelaide.

"I was quickly taken in by (captain-coach) Geof Motley," said Potter. "Geof and Gaynor took me in as part of their family. Geof became a mentor. And I never had to worry about what was happening around me on the football field when I had Geof, Lloyd Zucker and Ted Whelan around me.

Despite knowing nobody when he arrived in 1959, Potter was quickly taken in by the Motley family.

"One day I was flat on the ground in a spot of trouble and I looked up to see Geof was standing over everyone making it very clear he was there to protect me. I had a lot of respect for Geof - and clearly many others did too."

Potter returned to Alberton after coaching in country ranks to mentor the reserves team, be a league selector and manage the social club.

His honours at Port Adelaide include four best-and-fairest crowns (1961, 1964, 1967 and 1969), Hall of Fame status and a seat on the bench in the club's Greatest Team, 1870-2000.

Potter, who continued to play tennis after his football career, watched the so-called modern game of Australian football questioning the merit of its scientific ways with "game plans that last 10 minutes".

"I love to see players play with their instinct," said Potter. "I like to see them do what comes naturally to them."

It was the way he played. Vale Jeff Potter.

The memorial to Jeff Potter at Alberton Oval will begin at 10.30am.