Dear Members and Supporters,

Happy New Year!

I trust you all had a restful and enjoyable break, and are ready for another huge season.

As we get back into the swing of things for 2014, there are a few things I’d like to keep you updated on.

Pre-season and important dates
Kenny and the boys are back into it and are attacking the pre-season period with the energy and enthusiasm you would expect at this time of the year.

Buddha Hocking’s Magpies squad has also resumed full training in preparation for our first serious on-field assignment for the year - the Family Day internal trial match featuring Power and Magpies players on February 8.

Put this date in your diary, because last year’s event was a ripper, with over 6000 people in attendance. We’ll send out more details shortly.

The other date you might also like to jot down is February 7, which will be our Annual General Meeting. The Port Club AGM will take place between 5.30pm to 6:00pm, followed by the main Port Adelaide Football Club AGM between 6:00pm and 7:00pm. The full Board, Ken and Garry will be in attendance and we look forward to seeing you there.

Welcome Shaun Hart
I’d also like to extend a warm welcome to Shaun Hart who is our new Director of Coaching. Shaun comes to Alberton after a decorated career as a triple premiership player with the Brisbane Lions and the development and NEAFL coach for the Gold Coast Suns. Shaun has been with the Suns since its franchise bid back in 2008 and played 273 games for Brisbane between 1990 and 2004. Shaun and Kenny worked together at the Suns and I know both are keen to resume that relationship again. They, along with our midfield manager Phil Walsh and high performance manager Darren Burgess, will be in charge of getting the boys primed for the big season ahead and I know we’re all looking forward to the results to come.

Approaching season 2014
As we gather momentum for the new season there are several key issues on our minds:

- the successful transition to Adelaide Oval, with particular focus on the opening Showdown.
- the transfer of our licence.
- the successful integration of our AFL and SANFL football programs.
- attracting 50,000 members in 2014.
- improving our Corporate Partnerships further in 2014.

As far as we have come in the past couple of years, we all know this is just the beginning and much still needs to be achieved.

All of these major projects are advancing well, and I will be in a position to update you fully by the end of January as to the progress we have made across the summer break.

Wilbur
This year will also mark the very significant 10-year anniversary of our 2004 Premiership victory. Big plans are being developed to honour this magnificent team and full details will be released soon.

In the meantime, I would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the incredible work being done by Michael ‘Wilbur’ Wilson, one of the heroes of the 2004 campaign and a current member of our medical team.

Michael’s mother has stage IV Myelofibrosis, a rare form of blood cancer. He is set to engage in a major fundraising effort over the next three months to support the charity Tour de Cure, who provide support for the Leukaemia Foundation.

As you know, Michael is a fanatical athlete and competitor, and intends to compete in the Melbourne Ironman competition in March as part of this campaign - quite an achievement for a man who has had multiple knee and shoulder reconstructions as a result of his commitment to the Port Adelaide Football Club! As you would expect, the Club will be supporting Michael all the way.

You can read more about Wilbur’s campaign on our website here and if there is any support you can throw Wilbur’s way, I know he will appreciate it. Click here to make a direct donation to his campaign.

As you can see there is a lot to look forward to!

I’d encourage you to get your memberships and seats to Adelaide Oval organised as soon as you can by calling the club on 1300 GO PAFC or weareportadelaide.com.au.

You are not going to want to miss any of the action this year!

KT