PORT ADELAIDE players leave on their pre-season trip to Europe on Saturday with a packed itinerary including training sessions, visits to elite international sporting facilities and a clash with the Western Bulldogs in London.
A squad of 29 players will fly out of Adelaide, accompanied by key football department staff including new senior coach Ken Hinkley, director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson and high performance manager Darren Burgess.
Newly signed players Angus Monfries (traded from Essendon) and Jack Hombsch (traded from Greater Western Sydney) will join many of their new team-mates on the tour which has two major destinations:
MILAN, ITALY, where the team will spend three days based at the Australian Institute of Sport European training base and visit the facilities of international football giant AC Milan.
LONDON, UK, where the team will prepare for and compete in the Elastoplast AFL European Challenge against the Western Bulldogs at Kia Oval on Saturday 3 November.
The group will also attend an English Premier League clash between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield, where Burgess was in charge of the Reds’ fitness and conditioning before returning to Alberton where he worked until 2008.
Port Adelaide players and staff have contributed to the cost of the trip which is also aimed at further developing the profile of the Australian Rules in overseas markets and advancing the AFL’s international strategy.
Coverage on PortAdelaideFC.com.au
PTV will be there every step of the way providing daily updates of the team’s travel as well as a daily diary update from a player.
The club also plans to have a match replay online as soon as possible, barring any technical difficulties.
Itinerary highlights:
Saturday 27 October:
Depart Adelaide
Sunday 28 October:
Arrive Milan
Activities: training sessions at AIS indoor, outdoor and specialised facilities, team meetings, visit to AC Milan facilities
Wednesday 31 October:
Depart Milan/Arrive London
Thursday 1 November:
11.30am - 1.00pm: Training at Kia Oval (Public welcome)
Friday 2 November:
Visit to Lords Cricket Ground
Team meeting
Saturday 3 November:
3.30pm: Elastoplast AFL European Challenge - Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs, Kia Oval
Tickets available www.kiaoval.com
Sunday 4 November:
4.00pm - Liverpool v Newcastle, Anfield
Monday 5 November:
Visit to Arsenal Stadium
Depart London
Wednesday 7 November
Arrive Adelaide
