FAMILIES will be kept cool at Port Adelaide’s annual family day with the club set to provide a range of facilities to beat the heat at Alberton Oval.
The Bureau of Meteorology has upped its original forecast for Saturday to 42 degrees - meaning supporters will be looking for any way to keep cool and refreshed throughout the day.
With the first opportunity to see the club in action in 2014, supporters will not want to miss the chance to see Port Adelaide’s combined Power and Magpies internal trial, with players on the field from 4:30pm.
The teams will involve a mix of players from the club’s AFL and SANFL lists wearing either the black home or white clash Power guernsey, due to the club’s traditional SANFL prison bar guernsey for the 2014 season still being in production externally.
But the likes of Magpie senior-listers Steve Summerton and Aseri Raikiwasa will still be on the field during the day.
Port Adelaide will provide a cool space in the club’s indoor training facilities with activities for kids, as well as mist fans on the eastern wing of Alberton Oval.
The Williams Family and Quinn Stands will be open for spectators, with both subject to capacity.
Black, white and teal slushies, ice blocks and water will also be available for purchase throughout the ground and near key entertainment locations, including the club’s membership and photo booths and canteen facilities in the outer.
Sunscreen will also be available for purchase by the sun-smart supporter.
With plenty of ways to keep cool on Saturday afternoon, senior coach Ken Hinkley is calling on all Port Adelaide supporters to get out and see the first results from the gruelling summer training program at Alberton as the Power and Magpies players sweat it out across four 20-minute quarters.
He will take charge of one team, while SANFL coach Garry Hocking will coach the other.
Hinkley also wants to see the club crack the 40,000-member mark on the day with supporters eager to get on board for the Power’s historic first year at the Adelaide Oval as well as supporting the Magpies in the 10-team SANFL League competition.
“Clearly the hotter the conditions, the better the result will be for our players and our footy club,” Hinkley told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“This is an important day for our community and there’s a very good chance we’ll break the 40,000-member mark, so for them to see our Power and Magpies players putting all their hard work into a game for the first time will be a real positive.
“It’s the first chance for our people to see us this year and get a glimpse for the style of footy we’re going to play.
READ Ken Hinkley's in-depth interview previewing the 2014 season
“We’ll turn up at every game this year - rain, hail or shine - and play for our community and make them proud of us at every level.
“This is our biggest community day and I want everyone to enjoy it together.”
Gates on Brougham Place and Queen Street open at 3:30pm on Saturday with entry for a gold coin.
Port Adelaide Football Club Family Day
When: Saturday 8 February
Where: Alberton Oval, entry off Queen Street and Brougham Place
Gates open: 3:30pm
Run out: 4:30pm
Cost of entry: Gold coin
Activities include face painting, balloon making, football activities, Thunda Power and Murray Magpie, giveaways and player autograph sessions
Beat the heat at Family Day on February 8th!
Port Adelaide's family day is going to be a scorcher on the field and off, but that won't stop you enjoying the excitement of the club's first internal hit out with Power and Magpies stars with plenty of ways to have fun and keep cool!
