THE Port Adelaide Football Club will take on SANFL finalists Sturt and the Port Magpies as its final preparation for the 2009 NAB Cup next month.

The two-hour trial match at Alberton Oval will form part of the club’s much-loved annual Family Day on Saturday 14 February. The Power will take on Sturt for three ‘quarters’, followed by the Magpies for three ‘quarters’.

Last year’s Australian Idol finalist, and huge Power fan, Tom Williams will perform in what will be a day full of family entertainment.

Power chief executive Mark Haysman said taking on the SANFL clubs was in the interests of football supporters as well as the players.

“For years we’ve used the weekend before our first NAB Cup game to play an internal trial but by taking on the Magpies and Sturt, our players will get the chance to try out some of the things they’ve been working on over summer and see how it goes against the unaware,” Haysman said.

“Six 20-minute periods will give the coaches a chance to give everyone a run who needs it and certainly presents a challenge with the opposition being fresh for the second half.

“Don’t forget more than half of our players are aged 21 or younger this year, and the very large majority of them will be getting plenty of game-time so don’t expect it to be all Cornes and Burgoyne and an easy win!

“This year we’re giving Power, Magpies, and Sturt fans the chance to see how their players are shaping up going into 2009, and for those who support a combination of those clubs, even better.

“The day will be the first time Josh Carr has had a run in a Power guernsey since the 2004 grand final, and the first chance our supporters will have to see our 12 other new players. I’m sure there will be plenty of interest in whoever is given the club captaincy too.

“Since our 1996 Family Day when we launched our club song, this has become one of the club’s great community events, and we certainly appreciate the opportunity to meet as many supporters as possible and celebrate that the football season has arrived again.”

Entry to the Family Day and trial match will be free for 2009 Power members, as well as Magpies and Sturt members. Non-member entry is a gold coin donation, with concession and kids under 12 free.

Gates open at 2pm, with the curtain raiser clash between the club’s Power Brokers in the battle for the Vodafone Power Broker Cup beginning at 2.50pm.

The Power will take on Sturt from 4pm, followed by the Magpies at 5.15pm. Entertainment continues through the night, with Tom Williams wooing his vocal teenage fans from 6.30pm, a Power players’ signing session at 7.30pm and the night finishing at 8pm.

The club thanks both the Port Adelaide Magpies and Sturt football clubs for agreeing to the match, and the SANFL for sanctioning it.

The Power’s NAB Cup campaign starts on Sunday 22 February in Canberra against Sydney, with the huge season opener at home against Essendon on Sunday 29 March.

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