EIGHT-TIME premiership player Paul Northeast has been inducted into the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame, during a gala ceremony at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Northeast played 235 games for the Magpies during his 14-year senior career, earning life membership of the club in 1997.

He represented the club as a junior before working his way through the system to earn his senior debut as a 17 year-old in 1987.

The 1991 Best and Fairest winner played in nine senior grand finals, losing only the 1997 decider, before his retirement in 2000.

Northeast is the 35th inductee into the Hall of Fame and described the recognition as “a massive honour.”

The 900-strong crowd was treated to some highlights of Northeast’s career, including vision of him throwing punches at current club CEO Keith Thomas.

Northeast joked “no wonder it’s taken me so long to get up here!”

Having thanked his wife Paula and children Will, Olivia, Harrison and Jack for their support, he turned his attention to coaches and other staff who had supported his career.

He saved his greatest thanks for his brother Andrew, who he credited with making him the competitive beast he was.

“As a kid, growing up as a supporter, I lived a few blocks away. I was lucky enough to play a few league games before my Grandparents passed away.

“And today as I stand here, I’m still a massive supporter of this footy club, I still go on the marches to the Oval from Rundle Mall.”

Northeast received his honour at the club’s dual Season Launch and Hall of Fame event from his friend, former teammate and Captain Tim Ginever, who described him as a “beast of a man” who “epitomised Port Adelaide”.

A fierce competitor, Northeast will perhaps most fondly be remembered by the Port Adelaide faithful for his untidy kicking style.



Ginever said a young Northeast’s kicking action actually deteriorated after he received specialist coaching.

“Bob Clayton worked with him on trying to get his ball drop down lower, closer to his foot but what that did was produce an even stranger looking action,” he said.

“The thing about Norther that I loved was that he concentrated so hard on it that he rarely missed targets but he was just amusing to watch.

“He was a smart player and because of his athletic ability he could run opponents ragged and with his aggression he was a pretty hard bloke to stand.”

Northeast came from a family of Port Adelaide supporters and Ginever said “Northa” was destined to become a club great because of a fierce determination to be the best.



He recalled a crabbing trip after the league side won the 1988 Grand Final, which Northeast had not been selected for – instead winning a reserves Premiership.

“On the way back from that crabbing trip he told the blokes in no uncertain terms that he’d allowed them to play in a league premiership that year and it wouldn’t be happening the next year because he’d be there - and he was dead right,” Ginever said, noting Northeast would eventually rank among the club’s most successful players.

“I always used to tell guys not to get arrogance mixed up with belief and Northa had a fierce belief and there was substance behind that drive.”

“He almost epitomised Port Adelaide, being tough, hard, ruthless, and courageous - Norther just fitted all of those words and the meaning behind them.”

Paul Northeast:
Games: 235
Goals: 11
8x SANFL Premiership player (1989, 1990, 1992, 1994-1996, 1998, 1999)

Port Adelaide life member (1997)
Best and Fairest winner (1991)