Port Adelaide great George Fiacchi says Bruce Abernethy, Warren Tredrea shouldn’t have to face off, calls process ‘disappointing’

Port Adelaide champion George Fiacchi says both Bruce Abernethy and Warren Tredrea deserve to be on the club’s board, and that it is “ridiculous” to make fans choose between them.

Port Adelaide champion George Fiacchi has hit out at the club’s election process. Picture: Keryn Stevens/AAP

A Port Adelaide great has taken aim at the Power’s election process, saying it is disappointing and disrespectful that two club champions have to go head-to-head for a board seat.

Seven-time premiership player George Fiacchi, who was on the club’s board from 2012-2019, told this masthead both Bruce Abernethy and Warren Tredrea deserved to be Power directors.

Abernethy, also a seven-time flag winner, and Tredrea, the Power’s only premiership captain, are vying for Port’s sole vacant members-elected position.

Tredrea tried to fill one of the board’s eight AFL-appointed seats last year, but Power chairman David Koch rejected the bid, insisting the four-time All-Australian had to go to the members’ vote.

Koch’s reasoning was not wanting to choose one club legend over another.

Fiacchi said the board could hand-pick a past player, as it had done with business leaders.

Port Adelaide great and former board member George Fiacchi. Picture: Keryn Stevens/AAP

“I think it’s disappointing and disrespectful to make them go up against each other,” Fiacchi told this masthead.

“Football is under-represented on the board and we need more Port Adelaide football knowledge – it’s about getting some balance.

“Both Tredders and Abba should be on the board, there’s no doubt about that.

“They’ve both got good qualities and would be an absolute asset for the footy club.

“To put them up against each other is ridiculous – you’re making the fans choose.

“The club supporter base is fractured as it is.

“A lot of the pro-Hinkley members will be voting for Abba and a lot of anti-Hinkley supporters will be voting for Tredrea.

“All we’re doing is encouraging this fracture in our supporter base when we should be trying to bring them back together.”

Port Adelaide premiership captain Warren Tredrea. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

A major part of Abernethy and Tredrea’s election platform is that the board needs a player’s perspective.

The only director with inner sanctum experience is former Sydney and Power operations manager Rob Snowdon, the other member-elected director.

Fiacchi’s board tenure ended when members voted in inaugural Power captain Gavin Wanganeen in 2019.

That was the most recent time two Port Adelaide greats faced off for the same board seat.

Fiacchi said he did not want to run against Wanganeen but had already nominated for re-election when the Brownlow Medallist entered the race.

“If I’d have known that Gavin was going to go, I’d have said ‘you know what, I won’t bother, I’ve been on for six years, that’s enough’,” Fiacchi said.

Wanganeen, the first Indigenous ex-player on an AFL board, vacated his seat in 2022 and members voted Snowdon in to replace him.

Fiacchi said the membership should decide more than two of Port’s 10 board spots.

Seven-time Port premiership player Bruce Abernethy is vying for a members-elected board position. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Power reduced the number of member-elected directors from four to two when the club’s licence was transferred from the SANFL to the AFL in 2014.

“They’re allowing Abba to go against Tredders because they don’t want to make a call and it’s easier to put them up against membership,” Fiacchi said.

Port Adelaide has two board vacancies.

Abernethy and Tredrea are vying for the spot Kathy Nagle previously held, while Darren Cahill has not been replaced since stepping aside 18 months ago.

The club has no timeline to fill Cahill’s seat nor is it required to always have 10 directors.

Port Adelaide will target someone with a particular skillset to ensure its board has a balance of credentials.

Nagle, who sought re-election after her three-year term expired, withdrew from the running because of work commitments.

She was replaced as Western Hospital chief executive last week.

Voting in the Power’s members election closes on Wednesday.

The winner will be revealed at the club’s annual general meeting on Friday.

Originally published as Port Adelaide great George Fiacchi says Bruce Abernethy, Warren Tredrea shouldn’t have to face off, calls process ‘disappointing’