The Port Adelaide Football Club will become a Bronze Sponsor of the Mortlock Shield competition and will be the major sponsor of the Under 15 Port Adelaide Cup. Both sponsorships are long term commitments, with the initial agreement for both 2015 and 2016, providing an important boost to football in the region.
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said the club is delighted to continue its long-standing relationship with the Eyre Peninsula community.
“Port Adelaide has been honoured to have been zoned to the Eyre Peninsula since 1972, and despite the changes to our recruiting zones in 2015 we will not be turning our back on that partnership,” said Mr Thomas.
“Community is at the very core at what drives us and the Eyre Peninsula has been a critical part of the Port Adelaide community for over 40 years and we look forward to continuing our partnership with football on the Eyre Peninsula.”
Mr Thomas said that impending changes to the SANFL recruiting zones would prevent Port Adelaide from being the zoned SANFL club for the Eyre Peninsula. However, he reaffirmed that Port Adelaide, through its sponsorship of the Mortlock Shield and the Port Adelaide Cup, would do everything it could to continue to support the region.
“The Eyre Peninsula has a unique relationship with Port Adelaide and we are very much committed to ensuring that junior footballers have the best possible opportunity to progress through the talent pathways to elite football and if our continued support provides that opportunity for the next generation of footballers across the Eyre Peninsula, then we’re only too happy to assist,” said Mr Thomas.
“Port Adelaide has had unprecedented success since the 1970’s and many of these teams, including our AFL premiership team in 2004, have included many players who’ve come from the Eyre Peninsula. In some ways, this is our way of saying thanks and giving back to ensure that the next Sam Gray who’s coming through can live that dream.
“In 2015 there will be another SANFL League Club zoned to the Eyre Peninsula, and we look forward to working with them to ensure football on the Eyre Peninsula continues to prosper.”
