PORT ADELAIDE is delighted to welcome inaugural AFL team member Jarrod Cotton back to Alberton to join the club’s SANFL coaching ranks.
Cotton, who was most recently senior coach at Norwood between 2017 and 2020, will join Matthew Lokan’s coaching staff for the 2021 SANFL season, working with the midfield group on game days and in a part-time development role during the week.
The 44-year-old said he was thrilled to be making his way back to Alberton and was looking forward to working with the club’s exciting group of emerging young players.
“I’m really excited about (returning to Port Adelaide) being a past player back in ’97 and ’98,” said Cotton.
“To come back and be part of an AFL club and be part of the Port Adelaide SANFL program with some exciting players was just a great opportunity,” Cotton said.
“I’ve got no doubt the experiences that I’ve had, both as a player and coach, will be able to help our younger players coming through the SANFL system.”
Port Adelaide’s General Manager – Football, Chris Davies, says Cotton’s appointment will be a valuable addition to the club’s SANFL program as it prepares to participate in the state league competition once again next season.
“Jarrod has a high-level understanding of the competition and knows what it takes to succeed at the level, with Grand Final experience as both a player and a coach. We believe his knowledge will help continue the individual development of our core group of exciting young players,” Davies said.
“Having said that, team success remains the most important part of our SANFL program and we believe that adding someone of Jarrod’s calibre to our coaching group will help in achieving that”.
Cotton was a member of Port Adelaide’s inaugural team that entered the AFL in 1997, playing four games that season, kicking four goals.
He also enjoyed a decorated 10-year career in the SANFL, playing 162 games across stints with Central District, Norwood and South Adelaide and represented South Australia at state level in 1996.
Upon retiring, Cotton took to the coaches box, enjoying two stints as Norwood’s senior coach in the SANFL, as well as positions as reserves head coach and assistant coach, working with the SANFL state program as forwards coach and as a development coach with the Adelaide Crows.
