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It’s suddenly much more than our field of dreams. On one spectacular Spring afternoon it became a magnificent reality – the Port Adelaide Football Club is coming home to Adelaide Oval.

On Sunday 4 September 2011, Adelaide Oval hosted its first ever AFL game as the Power staked its claim on the hallowed ground with a fighting eight-point win over Melbourne.

Close to 30,000 spectators packed the world famous venue in scenes reminiscent of the glory days of football in the City and a prelude to what lies ahead once Adelaide Oval becomes the permanent home of AFL from 2014.

A sea of black, white and teal circled descended on the Oval as Port Adelaide hosted the Demons in the historic Round 24 clash – the first AFL game in Adelaide not played at AAMI Stadium, home of South Australian football since 1974.



Adelaide Oval had seen the feats of Bradman and hosted epic Test cricket matches, thrilling One Day games, SA’s Sheffied Shield triumphs and even rock concerts. But this was a day that wound back the clock to the days of the 1960s football when enormous crowds would take every vantage point to see SANFL Grand Finals.

Once again, the crowd was shoulder-to-shoulder on the famous northern hill and southern mound. Children sat on their fathers’ shoulders and perched on fence posts to witness the action. The iconic scoreboard – itself 100 years old in 2011 - tallied the goals and behinds and the shadows crept across the ground towards St Peter’s Cathedral and the Adelaide Hills as the afternoon wore on.

Port Adelaide had enjoyed its own long history at Adelaide Oval, having won 21 Premierships at the ground – the last in 1965 when the Magpies held off Sturt to win by three points in front of 62,543 screaming people.

But this day was more about the future.

It wasn’t about the deeds of Geof Motley or Neville Hayes as the Magpies won an Australian record six Premierships in-a-row between 1954 and 1959. It was a time for new heroes like Travis Boak whose torpedo punt goal on quarter time and left foot precision kick in the final term helped secure victory.

And it was a time to contemplate football’s new era. It was the day that gave us the first hint of what it will be like when top level football returns to the City.

That is two years away, but – thanks to the SANFL, the AFL, the SACA and the Port Adelaide and Melbourne Football Clubs – the sporting public now knows a little of what’s in store when Adelaide Oval undergoes its stunning redevelopment.

At the new Adelaide Oval, the experience will be even greater than what we enjoyed in this one-off spectacle.

Thank you to our Members and all of our supporters for creating another proud day for the Port Adelaide Football Club and the sport in South Australia.

We hope that we can rely on your continuing support as we play our final season at AAMI Stadium in 2013.

Your ongoing backing will help to make sure we head for Adelaide Oval in the best position to make the most of a future we have now witnessed.