The club’s deputy chairman Kevin Osborn signed 13 agreements to finalise the licence transfer on behalf of the Port Adelaide board of directors at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday afternoon.
Among those 13 agreements are:
- The licence agreement, signed between Port Adelaide and the Australian Football League (AFL).
- A sub-licence to lease the Adelaide Oval, signed between Port Adelaide and the SANFL.
- A deed of surrender of licence and sub-licence, signed between the AFL, SANFL and Port Adelaide.
- The Adelaide Oval financial model core principles agreement, signed between the AFL, SANFL, Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Football Club.
- A club funding deed to provide a series of game development grants to the SANFL, signed between the SANFL, Port Adelaide and the AFL.
It is the most significant administrative achievement for Port Adelaide since it was originally granted a licence for admission to the AFL in 1994.
The licence transfer will allow the club to operate independently for the first time since it was elevated into the AFL competition.
Port Adelaide’s chief executive officer Keith Thomas said the signing of the agreements opens a new chapter for the club, where it would be in full control of its operations in the AFL and SANFL competitions.
“We are appreciative of the opportunity our relationship with the SANFL has provided us for the last 17 years,” Mr Thomas said.
“But the opportunity to acquire our independence from the SANFL and control our own destiny in the AFL is something we have been fully committed to for some time. Today that opportunity becomes a reality.
“Effectively having two bosses in the AFL and the SANFL had created inefficiencies in the way we were able to operate as a competitive and innovative football club on the national stage - that has now been rectified by this licence transfer.
“We can now firmly focus our governance and operations on achieving the business outcomes we need to win premierships.
“While the priorities of an AFL club are at times incompatible with those of the SANFL and its agenda for its competition, we will continue to contribute to the development of the game here in South Australia through the development of a club funding agreement.
“We have repeatedly stated our commitment to developing the game here in SA and are proud to continue our contribution to community and grassroots football through that agreement.”
Mr Thomas said the transfer of the licence to the club was symbolic of several significant changes the club had championed and achieved over the past 18 months, including the move of football back to the Adelaide Oval and the agreement to fully integrate the club’s football operations in the AFL and SANFL.
“Our independence is one of three key strategies we have sought to achieve in the past 18 months and symbolically this is a feel-good moment for all Port Adelaide people,” he said.
“Significant time has been invested into the process and it is something everyone associated with our club can be proud of.
“We have achieved the relocation of football to a wonderful, world-class facility in the heart of the city at the Adelaide Oval and we will move there as a fully united football club with the Power in the AFL and the Magpies in the SANFL.
“I’m proud to say on behalf of everyone at the club that We Are Port Adelaide and now we are in full control of the bright future of this proud club.”
