When Port Adelaide players take to the field on Saturday in a special Anzac Appeal Round guernsey, they will be very aware of the significance of the occasion, according to leadership player Willem Drew.

The midfielder and his teammates will wear a guernsey featuring the names of 164 past Port Adelaide players who served in the military, to help pay tribute to all of those who continue to make sacrifices for their country.

The club is hosting an Anzac Appeal match for the 21^st consecutive year.

As part of the occasion, the Peter Badcoe VC Medal will be awarded to the player who best demonstrates the Anzac values of skill, courage in adversity, self-sacrifice, teamwork, and fair play.

Drew won the award last year for his performance in the Anzac Appeal game against St Kilda.

He was joined at a media conference at Alberton on Tuesday by Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson and RSL SA/NT CEO Tara Belton where they discussed the significance of the game, the health of the playing list after consecutive wins and an underrated defender’s approaching milestone.

Willem Drew on how the players feel about playing and hosting a game in the Anzac Appeal Round:

“From a playing perspective, it's obviously a round that we absolutely love to play in. Richo just touched on how important is for the club, but for us as players, we understand the significance of the round, and it's something that we look forward to playing every year and can't wait to get out there. Is there anything the club,

“In previous years we've had some sort of past veterans come in and speak to us. I'm not entirely too sure what Kenny and the coaches have got for us this week, but I'm sure it'll be touched on throughout the week.”

Willem Drew on winning the Peter Badcoe VC Medal in last year’s Anzac Appeal Round:

“Obviously, it was a great honour to win the award. It's voted on (which player best demonstrates) the Anzac spirit and doesn't have to go to the best player. So, saying that, I'm extremely proud.”

Willem Drew on beating Hawthorn and Sydney in consecutive weeks:

“(It’s) absolutely massive, I think, from a playing group perspective, and also the coaches. We probably look back to that St Kilda game and actually gained a lot of confidence from that. So as the coaches reviewed that game and thought that we're actually doing some things that were really vital to us, and then the last two weeks have been some big games, and we've been able to get a head start on our opposition, and I suppose, sort of just held on in the end, but really pleasing to get those wins and definitely get that momentum going.”

Willem Drew on whether the club has an issue with its fourth quarters:
“I think in this day and age, it's pretty hard to play four quarters of footy and dominate all the time. I suppose the thing for us is we were able to win in different ways, which is really pleasing. Obviously, it does get a little bit tense there in those last quarters, but we've been able to get the job done, and that's the pleasing thing.”

Willem Drew on how close Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is to playing his first game after a pre-season back injury:

“I think we might only have four on the injury list, which is really pleasing. And yeah, obviously for Zerk, I think he's going to be available for selection this week. So yeah, he's put in an amount of work, and he's sort of been grinding away there for a bit by himself. But it’ll be really great to see him back out there and hope he goes well.”

Willem Drew on the importance of fellow midfielders Zak Butters and Ollie Wines:

“Zak's been massive. I think everyone knows he's a massive part of this team. He just competes, just loves the contest, and he’s so skilful and a really valuable team member.

“You know what you're going to get from Ollie every week and he provides such a great contest. (He’s) another person that you just love playing with.”

Willem Drew on Kane Farrell ahead of the defender’s 100^th AFL game this weekend:

“It’s a massive week for Faz playing his 100th game. He’s a super close mate of mine who, we used to live together early days and obviously he's been through a lot with a few injuries and whatnot. So yeah, it’s going to be really exciting game for him and obviously his family and mates are super proud of him.” 

Matthew Richardson on the significance of the Anzac Appeal Round for Port Adelaide:

“This is a really significant week for our footy club and for the country. It's the 21st year consecutively that Port Adelaide has hosted Anzac round. It's significantly culturally for our club, given our history. There are 164 players who have represented the club who've also served the country in conflict. All of those players this week will have their names on our guernsey this week, and the proceeds from the sale of those match-worn guernseys will be shared by the RSL and the club's ADF Veterans Program, which is another really important element of this week for Port Adelaide.

“We run two really significant programs, the ADF Veterans Program, which helps veterans as they're coming out of the armed services back into the community, and another program called Power to Thrive, which helps the people who are in the armed services and their families integrate into the community. So, it's a really significant week for our football club, lots of celebrations and you know, we're looking forward to Saturday at Adelaide Oval against North Melbourne.

“It's one of those weeks where it feels like it's bigger than the game. It's bigger than us. And it's a great privilege for us to once again be hosting Anzac round.”

Matthew Richardson on the heart issue which saw Ollie Wines substituted during Sunday’s game:

“As Ollie has talked about himself, it's not a new situation. It's something that Ollie and his medical team have been well aware of, and they're managing. Ollie's at the club today, and in really good spirits and I think Ollie has got a great team of medical people around him that give him great confidence and give us great confidence.

“I think Ollie has expressed probably just frustration, but it's one of those issues that he'd be addressing with his medical team at the moment. But from our perspective, there's no concern. He's got the right care around him, and he's in very good hands.

Matthew Richardson on the incident involving Aliir Aliir and a spectator at the SCG:

“I thought that the way that it was promptly dealt with - I thought Sydney were terrific in the way that they handled and got straight to Aliir. it's an unfortunate situation. I think Ken put it really well that, you know, people come to the footy to enjoy the spectacle that these guys put on. They're incredible athletes. It was a tense game at the end, so cheer, support your team, but there's a line, and clearly that young man went over the line, and he'll learn a lesson from that.

“But, I think the message for everyone that goes to the footy is at times, we can all be better.”

Matthew Richardson on where the club is at in terms of re-signing Zak Butters:

Zak is going really well at the moment, obviously, and we know how much the group means to Zak and vice versa so I'm sure that will take care of itself in time.

“Our list management team do an outstanding job. They're working well in advance, and you know, that'd be no different in this situation so I've got great confidence in the people that are managing that, as well as managing the rest of our list profile.”  

RSL SA/NT CEO Tara Belton on the significance of her organisation’s partnership with Port Adelaide:

“It's great, personally, to be part of. This is my first year as CEO of the RSL, so to be able to, I guess, partner in something that's so important as this to help us understand the sacrifices and keep that education piece alive is fundamentally important to the RSL and to our 48,000 veterans in this state.

RSL SA/NT CEO Tara Belton on her view about playing the game the day after Anzac Day:

“Friday is obviously commemorative, so it’s a bit of a somber position to go with Anzac Day. (The game) being the following day I think it makes it a little bit more special that we can continue that education piece.”