Former chairman Brett Duncanson, recently departed player Steven Salopek and the club’s long-time cheer squad leader are among the newest life members of the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Nine life members were presented at the club’s 2012 annual general meeting at Alberton on Friday night.

New chairman David Koch made his first presentations, describing life membership as a “very prestigious” honour and acknowledging each recipient’s outstanding service to Port Adelaide.

The 2012 life members are:

Brett Duncanson - Port Adelaide (SANFL) director 1996-2003 (president 1999-2003), Port Adelaide directors 2005-2012 (chairman 2009-2012)

Steven Salopek – 121 AFL games for Port Adelaide 2003-2012, 7 SANFL games for Port Adelaide 2012

Mike Heynen – Port Adelaide (AFL) physiotherapist since 2000

Ian Wilson – PAFC Cheer Squad treasurer 1975-1996, president 2001-present

Stacey Williams-Bambrick – Staff member for 15 years

Phil Walsh – Port Adelaide (AFL) assistant coach 1999-2006, opposition analyst and innovation 2007-2008

Glynn Davis – Port Adelaide (SANFL) match day statistician for 15 years

Kylie Christison – Port Adelaide (SANFL) match day statistician for 15 years

Geoff Samuels – Mini-league coordinator for 18 years

Steven Salopek and Phil Walsh were unable to be present to receive their life membership, but the remaining recipients were in attendance and acknowledged individually.

Ian Wilson – who was described by the chairman as “an amazingly passionate man” – received a round of applause befitting the man whose involvement in the cheer squad spans 40 years.

“Every one of these recipients is a passionate Port Adelaide person, but (Ian) is a man who wears that passion on his sleeve literally,” Mr Koch said.

Mr Duncanson spoke on behalf of all the recipients, thanking the life membership committee and acknowledging the many people who contribute to the club without receiving formal acknowledgement.

“It is important at this footy club to remember those people who do give a countless amount of time and in some cases an enormous amount of money,” Mr Duncanson said.

He called on Port Adelaide members to continue to demand the best from their club.

“Don’t be happy if we’re not performing,” Mr Duncanson said.

“That’s what makes us special and we have to demand the best from all of the people in our footy club.”

Mr Duncanson – who stood down as chairman and director at the end of the 2012 season – thanked all the directors he had served with during more than 16 years in Port Adelaide boardrooms.

“Every one of them, without a doubt, always acted in the best interests of this footy club and for you as members,” Mr Duncanson told 300 people gathered at the annual general meeting.

Mr Duncanson used his speech to reflect on the dilemma he and his fellow directors faced in determining whether Port Adelaide in the 21st century is a club or a business.

“We’re a business in the sense that everything you do, especially in the cut-throat AFL, has to be operationally best practice,” Mr Duncanson said.

“We can’t waver from that. We’ve got to demand that.

“But … this is a footy club first and foremost.

“The difference between us and many other organisations is that this has been built on a football club.”

But Mr Duncanson said the response to the death of player John McCarthy in September demonstrated the strength of Port Adelaide as a club.

He pointed to the support the club put around John’s family, his girlfriend, other players and their families and the leadership of general manager – football Peter Rohde and chief executive officer Keith Thomas, along with the outpouring of emotion from members and supporters.

“I was enormously proud and continue to be proud of this footy club for the way it acts as a club,” Mr Duncanson said.

The Port Adelaide Football Club congratulates all of its 2012 life members.