Port Adelaide got used to winning and being the best. But playing in the AFL was a whole new ball game.
After years of fighting to get into the national competition and planning by the board and administration, the side ran out onto the MCG on the 29th of March 1997 for its first game in the AFL. As well as its traditional black and white, the new silver and teal colours had been added to the guernsey, and the club had adopted the “Power” nickname to avoid any colour or nickname clash with its opponents on the day – the Collingwood Magpies. On the day Collingwood proved too good but it was the first step towards Port Adelaide becoming top of the competition.
Two weeks later the club had its first AFL win over Geelong and percentage of points scored and against was the only thing that kept Port from a remarkable run into the finals in its debut campaign.
In a then 16-team competition, with rules that ensure no club remains at the top for too long, Port Adelaide battled to the top, finishing in the top four in 2001 and as minor premiers in 2002 and 2003.
Those minor premierships bore no fruit, other than three of the McLelland Trophies you can see in the cabinet. The trophy was inaugurated in 1951 to recognise the 25-years of service of former Victorian Football League President Dr William McClelland from 1926 to 1955. At the time of Port Adelaide’s AFL entry, the trophy was awarded to the team that finished top of the AFL ladder at the end of the home-and-away season – though nowadays the club with the best aggregate performance across the AFL and AFLW competitions wins it. Given it’s a perpetual trophy, these are replicas that clubs are given.
With no premiership to show from repeated failed finals campaigns, the Port Adelaide side coached by Mark Williams readied itself for another tilt at the ultimate glory in 2004, tagged as ‘chokers’ unable to perform when it counted. In fact, at the end of 2003, then major sponsor Allan Scott declared the club would never win a premiership with Mark Williams as coach.
The son of club great Fos Williams and brother of SANFL coach Stephen Williams, Mark grew up in a home surrounded by success and appeared destined to add his own when he took over from John Cahill as the coach of the Power for the 1999 season.
Despite external doubts, and season-ending injuries to captain Matthew Primus and leading midfielder Josh Francou, Port Adelaide powered through the 2004 season, winning 17 of its 22 games to finish as minor premier again on the way to yet another finals campaign.
This time the side finally got through to the Grand Final against Brisbane for what would undeniably be its greatest challenge in the AFL.
The Lions had won the previous three premierships and were seeking to become the first team to win four consecutive VFL/AFL flags since Collingwood between 1927-30.
It was the first time there was no Victorian-based team in the grand final.
Midfielder Josh Carr, wearing the number nine guernsey you can see in the cabinet, settled the nerves with the opening goal, and after a typically tough battle, the Power kicked away in the second half to finally claim the ultimate success.
The final siren led to an outpouring of emotion, particularly from Williams. As he walked down the stairs onto the ground, Williams tugged at his tie to mock the ‘choking’ barbs before he joined acting captain Warren Tredrea in triumphantly lifting the premiership trophy.
Fittingly it was John Cahill who presented the cup to Williams and Tredrea, and in his speech, after paying tribute to Brisbane, Williams couldn’t resist a little dig at the club’s major partner.
You’ll see the Norm Smith and Premiership medals won by midfielder Byron Pickett in the cabinet. The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the player judged to be the best afield – and Pickett’s three-goal effort on the day made him a popular winner.
Winning the 2004 premiership is undoubtably the club’s crowning moment.
Another big moment was Port Adelaide’s inclusion in the AFLW competition for the 2022 season, giving the club the opportunity to have Alberton Oval highlighted as an AFL standard match day venue. But we’ll talk more about that at our next stop when we head outside.
Take the stairs or head up via the lift to the outdoor deck of The Precinct where we will talk more about Alberton Oval’s history and future.