AFL 2024: Warren Tredrea wins vote to officially join the Port Adelaide board
The highly publicised Port Adelaide board battle is over – and Power premiership captain Warren Tredrea is officially back at the club.
Port Adelaide
Don't miss out on the headlines from Port Adelaide. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says there is “absolutely no awkwardness at all” after the Power’s AFL premiership captain and fierce critic of the club Warren Tredrea won the highly publicised battle for a place on its board.
And Koch has rejected that the extremely tight margin Tredrea won over Port Adelaide great Bruce Abernethy shows any split in the Power’s membership base, saying the club “we have a club that is breaking records left right and centre”.
The Power announced on Friday that Tredrea, who was the captain when it won the 2004 flag, would be elected by members to its board on a three-year term.
Tredrea received 50.9 per cent of the over 10,000 vote with Abernethy – a seven-time SANFL premiership winner and former board member – receiving 49.1 per cent.
Only 199 votes separated the two.
Tredrea has been one of the Power’s main critics in recent years.
After the club went 1-2 to start the 2023 season, he said senior coach Ken Hinkley’s position was “untenable” and then accused Koch of “gaslighting” him.
Koch said there was no awkwardness around Tredrea now joining the board.
“Absolutely no awkwardness at all,” he said.
“Our members are really educated supporters. We made a decision that legends of the club to get on the board, because so many want to (have to be member elected).
“I’m absolutely happy for anyone who the members elect, and also for any past player to be involved with the club intimately as well.
“That’s what we are we are a community club with a great history of players and supporters who want to be actively involved.
“We argue all the time on the board, Warren and I will be arguing and will continue to argue as well because we are passionate about the club.
“Because we have ideas and want the club to get better, so it doesn’t mean that you don’t like the bloke you just have a different opinion so you discuss it and do what is best for the club.”
Tredrea’s election means that the Power are no longer the only AFL club without a past player either on the board or as its chief executive.
He said he wouldn’t be an agent of change now he was on the board and would look to help the football department do what was required to get the Power back to flag-winners.
But he did say his election to the board show members “want someone to ask the questions that have to be asked at the right time”.
“This club exists to win premierships and it is now 20 years since we have won our last one,” he said.
“It is not easy to win one and history shows that we have been pretty close over the last couple of years.
“So if anything you offer your expertise to help the people who are paid to do their jobs to get that result.
“My job is to support them but at some stage tough decisions have to be made in all areas of the business.”
Tredrea said he didn’t think his comments about Hinkley and the club would linger as he took a place on the Power’s board.
“I don’t think (so). I was open at the time with my thoughts,” he said.
“We are all grown men, we’ve moved on from there and I’m here to support it and give back to the club that has given me a lot.”
When asked about if he was fully backing Hinkley and his comments last year, Tredrea said “they were my honest comments at the time”.
“Yeah he signed a two-year contract last year,” he said.
“He has since signed a two-year contract, he is a contracted coach of the club and the club has unanimous support in him.”
The Power have one vacancy on its board with Darren Cahill’s position still to be filled.
Koch said he would look for a female candidate to fill it and reiterated that club greats and former players wanting to get on the board would have to be member elected.
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL 2024: Warren Tredrea wins vote to officially join the Port Adelaide board
McRae’s pointed message as Richards’ trade D-Day nears
Collingwood coach Craig McRae left Joe Richards in no doubt about where he thinks his future lies, publicly addressing the small forward’s future at the Magpies’ best-and-fairest count.
Butters’ message to Cornes, injury critics after Cahill Medal victory
Zak Butters has revealed how he battled niggling injuries for much of the 2024 season on his way to a second John Cahill Medal — and responded to those who question his toughness.