Former Port Adelaide player and chief executive Paul Belton is set to retire after a decade as principal of St Paul’s College

Despite a successful career in South Australian football, this Adelaide private school principal has always wanted to work in education. Now after four decades, he is set to retire.

Former Port Adelaide SANFL player and chief executive Paul Belton is set to retire as principal of St Paul's College after more than 40 years in education. With year 2 students Carlos, Aishvir, Aria and Aarav. Picture: Brenton Edwards

A former Port Adelaide Magpies player and chief executive, now private school principal, has called time on his career after more than four decades in education.

Throughout Paul Belton’s footy career and after hanging up his boots in 1989, he has had a passion for education.

But after more than a decade leading St Paul’s College in Gilles Plains he is set to retire at the end of 2024.

Port Adelaide vs. South Adelaide SANFL Grand Final match at Football Park, West Lakes, 30 Sep 1979. South's Phil Collins bends low and puts his body over the ball in an attempt to clear. Magpie Paul Belton keeps his hands high as he follows Collins and teammate Peter Hofner keeps pace.

Mr Belton, 66, won three premierships for Port Adelaide as a player across the 1970s and early 80s before leading the SANFL club as chief executive for five years from 1999.

But even during his playing days, Mr Belton “always wanted to be a teacher”.

“I was paid a little bit but I was teaching, you couldn’t do it (football) as a full financial career,” he said.

“I grew up in a family of nine kids and I love being around people and I love sport, so I thought if I picked up … teaching I’d get the best of both worlds.”

Mr Belton started his teaching career in 1980 at Blackfriars Priory School after he was a student there and then followed a four-year stint at St Michael’s College.

“Then I had my midlife crisis and left teaching (to become Port Adelaide chief executive),” he said.

Former Port Adelaide SANFL player and chief executive Paul Belton has always loved education, even during his playing career. With year 4 students, Giuseppe and Aaliyah, year 2 students Carlos, Aishvir, Aria and Aarav, year 8 students Skye and Mila and year 11 students Jackson and Bradley. Picture: Brenton Edwards

But he was drawn back into education.

“You love the concept of family, the concept of coaching and the concept of being able to help people achieve what they want to achieve,” Mr Belton said.

Over his 40-year career Mr Belton said a lot had changed in education, including parents, children and screen time.

“The stresses and strains of everyone having to work is making parenting even harder,” he said.

“People become tired and it puts pressure on everything.

“Sometimes people can fall into the trap of having electric babysitters (screens).”

Children are also suffering through lack of sleep.

“Kids don’t get enough sleep and we talk to them about it all the time,” Mr Belton said.

“We need to get back to a balance.”

One of his biggest achievements at St Paul’s, he said, was welcoming girls to the school when it became coeducational in 2022.

But Mr Belton said he couldn’t have led a successful career without his life partner, Deirdre, and his support staff at school.

“I’ve got a great wife and a great life and a great leadership team,” he said.

Cardijn College deputy principal Patrick Harmer will take over from Mr Belton at St Paul’s at the start of the 2025 school year.