Dear Members and Supporters

Well, I think that we can safely say that our 150 year preparations are now officially at full throttle!

The new logo is plastered on everything that looks, feels or smells like Port Adelaide.

The Prison Bar guernseys are flying out the door in readiness for our Home Showdown, and today we announced that the club will be reverting back to the single captain leadership model, with Tom Jonas wearing the Number 1 on his back as our skipper in 2020.

Could I just say how proud I have been of Tom, Ollie and Hamish throughout this whole process.

They embraced their new leadership roles this year, and despite the disruption of injury at various stages through the year, were able to have a powerful and positive impact on the team.

Then, as we openly discussed the need and desire of the club to again embrace the club’s traditional on field leadership model, they listened to the rationale and without hesitation put the club’s broader interests ahead of their own. They are great young men.

The tension point between progress and tradition is one that our club has wrestled with since ascending into the AFL in 1997. So much change has occurred, much of it out of the sheer necessity to not only conform to the rules and regulations of the national competition, but to compete and excel in the highest competition in the land. We make no apologies for that, indeed I’m sure it’s the mindset you would expect from your club.

But despite this relentless drive forward, we have this year again been reminded that traditions and icons are important to clubs of substance.

They remind us of our history, our values, and indeed very often they help to define us.

Some are deemed so significant, that they must be protected and nurtured against the pull of time.

A single captain, wearing number 1 on their back, is one of those icons for the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Good luck to Tom, Ollie and Hamish in their preparations for a big year ahead.

I had the great privilege this week of meeting all of the new arrivals, and welcoming them to the club.

What an unbelievable ride it is for a young aspiring AFL footballer to get drafted.

I swear it’s a harder recruitment process than landing a job as CEO!

Years of trials, tests, interviews, psych analysis, family background checks, school exams…you name it, they have to endure it.

But to see all the new boys,  heads spinning as we told them the history behind Big Bob Mclean’s intimidating old chair which sits in the corner of our Boardroom, champing at the bit to represent our Club, is pretty special I’ve got to say. The List team have done a terrific job.

Next stop…Maroochydore.

If the group extract half as much value from the experience as they did at last year’s camp, it will be a great result.

This week we ticked over the 40,000 member mark.

I remember, not too long ago, shooting for 40,000 members in a season and falling short!

Our sights are set a little higher these days.

To those of you who have locked in already…thank you. Great to have you on board again.

If you’re not there yet, your scarf is here waiting for you!

2020 is going to be a huge year.

We are Port Adelaide. 

KT