Westport Primary School throws support behind the Power ahead of Hawthorn finals challenge

Despite a recent 84-point setback, one Adelaide school has ‘never lost faith’ in Port Power and will be cheering them on to beat Hawthorn.

Black, white and teal are on show all year round at Westport Primary School but Port fan and deputy principal Lisa Craddock is planning something special if the Power beats Hawthorn on Friday.

“The support’s there all year round. We like to share our passion and our love for Port Adelaide with our kids as well,” she said.

“If we win on Friday, I’ll be talking to (the principal) and making sure we get a bit of a Port colours day happening in the lead up for that prelim.”

On Friday, Port Adelaide will take on Melbourne’s Hawthorn in what will be their final chance at a spot in the grand final.

Despite the recent setbacks faced by the club, Ms Craddock feels support for the club is “the strongest it’s probably ever been”.

“Even though we’ve had games we’ve lost this year, the kids and us teachers, we’ve never lost faith,” she said.

Westport Primary School deputy principal Lisa Craddock with Imogen, Louis, Asher, Brody, and Harlo ready for the big do-or-die clash against Hawthorn. Picture: Ben Clark

Fans have continued to strongly back the club despite a devastating 84-point home qualifying final loss to Geelong last week.

That includes some of the club’s youngest supporters at the western suburbs school, which shares its colours with the football club.

Harlo said she was backing the club because “it’s the colours of my school”.

She hoped for a win on Friday would pave the way for her “local AFL team to make the grand final”.

Port Adelaide have made finals multiple times over the past decade only to fall at the last hurdle.

Westport Primary School Power Fans Imogen and Louis are hoping for a big win over Hawthorn. Picture: Ben Clark

But Ms Craddock believes this year will be different.

“I think they just have to believe in themselves and play the game they’ve played all season,” she said.

“Obviously last week was not great, no one wanted that ... I feel like they’ve got just the right mix of players, they’ve got a mixture of veterans and young ones but those young ones are, they’re established, they’re confident.

“I think Friday night’s game is going to be the hardest, obviously with the loss last week, they’ll be feeling a little nervous and hoping there’s probably no repeat of last week.

“If they get that win on Friday, I think then they’ll have that momentum again and then they’ll more than likely be going up, against Sydney, who we played not long ago and we absolutely smashed them.”

Westport Primary School Power Fans Asher, Brody, and Harlo are ready for finals. Picture: Ben Clark

For the born and bred Port fan – who remembers when the club last triumphed in a grand final twenty years ago — a win on Friday would be “amazing”.

“I remember vividly the last premiership we won was when I was in year 12 in high school, and after we won, I had just got my driver’s licence and me and my friends jumped in our car and we just cruised the streets of Alberton, hanging our heads out the window, screaming and screaming,” she said.