Port Adelaide’s AFLW team will wear the club’s iconic prison-bar guernsey in its season-opening Showdown

In what is being dubbed as an ‘exciting whole-of-club moment’, one of the most iconic guernseys in the game will make its AFLW debut this year. Here’s all the details.

Port Adelaide’s historic prison-bar guernsey will make its debut in the AFLW when the two South Australian teams kick off the 2024 season in the first AFLW Showdown to be held at Alberton Oval.

The Power was able to wear its historic black and white jumper in its home AFL Showdown last year, and will do so again in just over two weeks time against fierce rivals Adelaide, after getting approval from Collingwood.

And for the first time ever the Power’s AFLW side will don the iconic guernsey when its season kicks off on August 31, hosting the Crows in the third AFLW Showdown and first at its traditional home.

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson said the AFLW side wearing the prison-bars in the under-lights clash at Alberton would be an exciting whole-of-club moment.

Port Adelaide AFLW captain Janelle Cuthbertson, forward Ashleigh Saint and midfielder Abbey Dowrick in the Power’s prison-bar guernsey. Picture: Matt Sampson

“The Prison Bar guernsey is a significant part of our club heritage and for our AFLW team to wear it for the first time at Alberton Oval will be a special moment that I know our players are greatly looking forward to,” he said.

“For our AFLW team to wear the guernsey for the first time brings our three football programs together and reinforces the significance of this guernsey for our club and our people.”

The Power’s AFLW captain Janelle Cuthbertson said it was special the women’s team could wear the jumper.

“As a playing group, we embrace the history of this club and are so proud to honour those who came before us by wearing this guernsey,” she said.

“This guernsey represents Port Adelaide’s incredible history of sustained success in the SANFL that ultimately saw the club elevated to the national stage.

“Without the success in this guernsey, both our men’s and women’s teams wouldn’t be playing in the national competition today. That is not lost on our group.

“We know how much the jumper means to the wider Port Adelaide community and we can’t wait to run out wearing it in Round 1 at Alberton Oval.”

Port Adelaide’s AFLW side will wear the jumper in the opening round of the season. Picture: Matt Sampson

Jason Horne-Francis, Jase Burgoyne and Connor Rozee in the prison bars last year. Picture: Simon Cross

Power AFL captain Connor Rozee said he was proud to see the two programs at Alberton united by the guernsey.

“It’s a symbol of where we have come from, and it’s such a privilege to pay respect to that history,” he said.

“I am really excited to watch our AFLW team wear the prison bars and look forward to supporting them in the season ahead.”

Tickets for the season-opening AFLW Showdown, along with the rest of the season’s matches go on sale from 2pm on Tuesday, while the AFLW prison-bar guernsey can be pre-ordered online.

Originally published as Port Adelaide’s AFLW team will wear the club’s iconic prison-bar guernsey in its season-opening Showdown