Warren Tredrea applies to join Port Adelaide board for second year running

Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea is again applying to join his former club’s board – almost 12 months after having a previous bid rejected.

Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea is applying to join his former club’s board – almost 12 months after having a previous bid rejected.

Tredrea, the Power’s sole premiership captain and a vocal critic of coach Ken Hinkley, will stand for the position of member-elected director ahead of elections early next year.

The four-time All-Australian tried to immediately join the board at the start of 2023 to fill the AFL-appointed position vacated by Darren Cahill, only for Port chairman David Koch to knock Tredrea back because he did not want to choose one club legend over another.

Port told Tredrea at the time that he would need to go to the members’ vote.

Tredrea confirmed on his podcast, The Big Deal, on Tuesday that he would be doing so.

Member-elected director Kathy Nagle’s three-year term is complete, though she is eligible to renominate.

Warren Tredrea wants to join the Port Adelaide board. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Tredrea, who played 255 AFL games and 26 SANFL games for Port, made headlines in April when he described Hinkley’s position as untenable.

His comments came after the Power’s 1-2 start and a round 3 Showdown loss in the last season of Hinkley contract.

That same month Tredrea accused Koch of gaslighting him after the chairman said the former centre half-forward had a “new podcast to promote”.

Tredrea told this masthead in February that he had been keen to step up and immediately help his former club.

“If they were red-hot keen they would’ve jumped on it straight away,” Tredrea said.

“The longer it’s gone the more you’re disappointed that they don’t think you’re worthy of the position and the option was to go the members’ vote in December.

“But that’s nearly a year away, when I was hoping to step up and get involved now.

“Ultimately, it comes back to, I understand, the current board that makes the decision.

“They don’t see fit for me right now which is disappointing.”

David Koch (R) rejected Koch from the Power board earlier in the year. Picture: Morgan Sette

At the Power’s annual general meeting in February, Koch said he made the call on Tredrea because he “felt it wasn’t fair”.

“I felt it was a little bit disrespectful to other players and legends of the club who do so much work for the club to do a captain’s call,” Koch said.

Koch said at the time that he expected Tredrea to win a board spot if he did run.

“When he ran for member elected, who wasn’t going to vote for Gavin Wanganeen,” he said.

“Even our member-elected board members agreed with that.”

Board nominations opened on November 22 and were due to close on December 6.

Voting will be held from January 25 to February 7, ahead of the AGM on February 9.

Port Adelaide’s other member-elected director is former Power football boss Rob Snowdon.