PORT ADELAIDE captain Tom Jonas says the current playing group will draw inspiration in the club’s 150th year from the success of the past as it chases its own Premiership.
Speaking at the club’s 150th Anniversary Gala event at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday night, Jonas acknowledged everyone involved with making the club what it is, from players, coaches and staff to administrators, volunteers and supporters.
The skipper took to the stage with coach Ken Hinkley after several panel discussions throughout the night which celebrated significant eras or periods in the club’s history.
“Some of the stories we’ve heard tonight are truly inspiring and we really could sit here and listen for hours,” Jonas told the 1600-strong crowd.
“As current captain I love hearing stories of your past success. You have created a legacy that our playing group admires greatly and you inspire us to achieve our own great deeds.
“You are all a true inspiration to us and one day we would love to be a part of a night like this so that the Port Adelaide community can be just as proud of us as we are of you all tonight.
“Hopefully in about nine months’ time!”
Hinkley was on hand to lead the jumper presentation for Port Adelaide’s seven new players – Miles Bergman, Mitch Georgiades, Dylan Williams, Jackson Mead, Trent Burgoyne, Jake Pasini and Wylie Buzza - while Jonas was presented the famous no. 1 guernsey by former captain Matthew Primus.
The senior coach described the feeling of being involved in such a significant night for the club as “very humbling”.
“As we all know, and is clear from tonight’s event, Port Adelaide is a club steeped in tradition and with a record of success like no other since 1870,” Hinkley said.
“As a club we exist to win premierships and the feats of all our premiership teams continue to fuel and inspire us to write our own history for our club as we enter our next 150 years.
“The great teams and the legends that have come before us are the bedrock of the modern Port Adelaide, they have set us up for who we are today and for who will be in the future.”
The night ended with the current squad on stage for a photo with the more than 100 past players in attendance in a moment that will live long in the memories of everyone at the event.
