Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas said the club’s rich history is inspiring the playing group heading into its 150th year
Port Adelaide celebrated its 150th anniversary at a gala dinner on Friday night in front of more than 1600 people – and The Advertiser was there. Here’s our key take-outs from the event.
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Captain Tom Jonas says Port Adelaide’s rich history is inspiring the 2020 squad and he hopes to join past greats in club folklore by leading the side to the ultimate success.
Jonas, who was co-captain last season and appointed sole skipper in December, capped Port’s 150th anniversary gala dinner on Friday night by linking its past and present – a theme throughout the event, which was one of the club’s biggest ever.
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He told a crowd of more than 1600 people at Adelaide Convention Centre, including most of the Power’s 2004 premiership team and legends of the club such as John Cahill, Geof Motley and Russell Ebert, that his side wanted to create its own history.
The night celebrated eight Port eras centred around: its formation in 1870; the 1914 team that went undefeated and was Champion of Australia; Bob Quinn; the side that won six flags in a row from 1954-59 under the leadership of Fos Williams and Motley on the field, and Bob McLean off it; the 1970s and ‘80s flags; ‘90s triumphs; Port’s AFL flag and today’s squad.
“Some of the stories we’ve heard tonight are truly inspiring and we really could sit here and listen for hours,” Jonas said.
“As current captain I love hearing stories of your past success – you have created a legacy that our playing group admires greatly and you inspire us to achieve our own great deeds.
“One day we would love to be a part of a night like this so that the Port Adelaide community can be just as proud of us as we are of you all tonight.
“Hopefully in about nine months.”
Notable moments:
■ Port president David Koch’s opening address focused on thanking a series of key people in the club’s history, rather than talk in detail about the coming season. Koch was joined on stage by more than a dozen past chairmen and presidents, and his speech paid particular tribute to the late Bruce Weber for his vision to push for representation on the national stage.
■ Players’ tables were assigned by eras or premierships. Nine-time flag winner Motley and eight-time premiership teammate Neville “Chicken” Hayes sat beside each other on a 1950s and ‘60s table and Motley was interviewed about their lifelong friendship. They attended Woodville High together then were part of Port’s most successful period.
■ Basketball great Phil Smyth was one of the night’s speakers and told stories about his grandfather, William Drummond, who played in the 1913 and record-setting 1914 seasons then later was awarded the Military Medal for service in World War I.`
■ You could have heard a pin drop during a rousing five-minute poem from Rupert McCall on Port’s 150-year history that referenced many Magpies and Power heroes, and everything from the club’s origins to Williams’s creed and “Never Tear Us Apart” to open the night.
■ There was plenty of love in the room, but none more so than between Mark Williams and Gavin Wanganeen. They were premiership teammates in 1990 when Williams was 32 and Wanganeen was 17, then coach and star player, and Williams recalled having to give Wanganeen a spray at halftime of Port’s preliminary final 16 years ago, before Wanganeen helped the club win that game and the grand final a week later. “We’ve known each other for a long time and he knows I love him and respect him … and not going to put up with him finishing his career at Port Adelaide not getting what he deserves,” said. Williams, who got one of Wanganeen’s dot paintings for his 60th birthday. Wanganeen responded: “Thanks Choc. I love you too.”
■ Greg Phillips’ story about how him, Tim Ginever, Paul Northeast and Mark Williams climbed to the top of the West End Brewery chimney after a premiership had the crowd in stitches.
■ Past and present came together again when Port greats handed guernseys to the newest Power players. In a nice touch, Darren Mead and Peter Burgoyne presented jumpers to sons Jackson and Trent, while former star forward Scott Hodges was paired with first-year spearhead Mitch Georgiades. Kane Cornes (Miles Bergman), George Fiacchi (Dylan Williams), Paul Northeast (Jake Pasini) and Darren Smith (Wylie Buzza) were the others involved.
■ The night ended with every past and present Port player in the room – and there were hundreds of them – getting up on stage.