The prison bars are famous in South Australia, where the club established itself as the most successful senior football club in the state and in Australia, with the club winning 32 of its 36 SANFL flags in the famous design.
The club has twice worn the design in the national competition.
It first wore the 1914 variation of the design, featuring prison bars across the back and front of the guernsey and a black number panel, against Carlton in the 2003 Heritage Round.
It won that match by 44 points.
It is appropriate that when the Power dons its traditional strip for just the third time in the AFL this weekend, its opponent will be Carlton.
The design it will wear on Saturday is the same as that worn in the 2007 heritage round against the Western Bulldogs – worn continuously in the SANFL from 1957 until 2012.
Of course, the other famous occasion that Port donned the prison bar guernsey against Carlton was way back in 1914 – almost 99 years ago.
On that October day, the visiting Carlton team played Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in a game to decide who would be crowned the champion club of Australia.
Despite the hot weather and the absence of a number of key players, Port Adelaide eventually prevailed over the Blues to win the title.
Port played Carlton in a similar post-season match in 1912, winning that game by a narrow ten points.
Both teams were the minor premiers of their respective state leagues that year (West Adelaide and Essendon having won the premierships).
Port came from an early deficit to prevail in the last quarter with a four-goal-to-two effort.
2003 AFL Heritage Round – Round 19
Port Adelaide 4.3 6.7 13.13 18.17 (125)
Carlton 3.3 7.4 11.8 12.9 (81)
Best: Pickett, Tredrea, James, Wanganeen, K. Cornes
Goals: Pickett 4, Tredrea 3, Cockatoo-Collins, C. Cornes, Dew, K. Cornes 2, James, S. Burgoyne, Cassisi
At AAMI Stadium
1914 Club Championship match
Port Adelaide 2.4 5.6 6.9 9.16 (70)
Carlton 1.3 3.3 4.4 5.6 (36)
Goals: Congear 4, Watson 2, Chaplin, Drummond, Wisdom
At Adelaide Oval
1912 – Minor premiers match
Port Adelaide 0.2 1.3 5.5 9.6 (60)
Carlton 1.1 4.4 5.7 7.8 (50)
Best: Mahony, James, Pope, Oliver, Callinan, Londrigan, Eaton
Goals: Congear, Woolman 2, Callinan, O’Grady, Anderson, Oliver, Macfarlane
At Adelaide Oval
