Port Adelaide news: Chairman David Koch wants Warren Tredrea back at the Power under the board

Although Port Adelaide president David Koch has had doubts about club great Warren Tredrea joining the Power’s board, he is imploring the champion to get back involved.

21/06/2018: David Koch, chairman of AFL football team Port Adelaide, has developed strong ties with China through the team which has now played an official competition game in Shanghai for two years in a row. Kochie is speaking out on the tensions in the Australia China business relationship and the importance of sport in helping to boost ties with China. Hollie Adams/The Australian

Port Adelaide president David Koch has implored Power champion Warren Tredrea to “get back involved” with the club despite his bid to immediately join the board being rejected.

The only man to captain Port to AFL glory, Tredrea approached the Power about joining the club’s board - replacing Darren Cahill as an AFL approved member.

Instead Tredrea was told that he would have to stand at the members’ elections at the end of this year.

Responding to a question at the club’s AGM about why Tredrea didn’t wasn’t being appointed to the board Koch said he felt uncomfortable about making a captains call and appointing Tredrea over another club past player and legend.

David Koch wants Warren Tredrea involved at the Power. Picture: Hollie Adams/The Australian

“That’s a call I made because I felt it wasn’t fair and 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,” he said.

“Happy to look at it again but that is just where it stood for Gavin (Wanganeen) and George (Fiachi).”

Tredrea, 44, has previously been unable to have an official role at the club because of his previous media commitments.

Koch said he wanted Tredrea to come in and get involved with the club this year at the levels below the board.

“I said to Warren get back involved, come on our committees and learn about the club,” Koch said.

“You’ve been away for 10 years, get involved with the club.

“Be on our footy committee, be on our board, financial and governance committee, our marketing committee like other players are.

“And I just don’t feel comfortable choosing him over other players who help the club out.”

Koch said if Tredrea did run for one of the member elected positions, he expected him to get a winning vote like Wanganeen did.

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

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

Warren Tredrea is a Port Adelaide great.

Amid criticism that there wasn’t “elite football” experience on the Power board, Koch said former Port and Sydney football boss Rob Snowden provided that.

Just two board appointees are elected by Power members.

Koch said by him being allowed to choose who was on the Power board, it allowed him to target specific skills.

He also revealed that the Power were now planning on getting rid of the poker machines at its Alberton headquarters.

“Where we are going in the future is that we are getting rid of them,” Koch said.

“We have reduced the number gradually, now we are getting to a position where we have the financial resources to replace them.”

Koch said the matter had been discussed at the Power’s board meeting on Friday and the timeline planned to get rid of the pokies was “in the next three years”.

“It is a very clear desire of the board (to get rid of the pokies),” he said.

Koch also revealed that the Power were buying houses around Alberton Oval as they look to expand the footprint of the club in the area.

Originally published as Port Adelaide news: Chairman David Koch wants Warren Tredrea back at the Power under the board