Port Adelaide is pleased to confirm the appointment of Mark Clayton as Academies Coach - SANFL & Port Adelaide Football Club as part of a significant strategic investment into talent development in South Australia.
Clayton, who has spent the past eight years as South Adelaide's Talent Manager and Under-18 coach, brings extensive experience in developing elite young footballers and will play a crucial role in fostering the state's best talent while ensuring a greater focus on eligible players for the club's Next Generation Academy (NGA) for First Nations and multicultural players.
The highly-respected talent development mentor steered the Panthers to the 2023 SANFL Under-18 premiership, breaking a 30-year drought, and also worked as an assistant coach for South Australia's championship-winning Under-18 team this year.
Working alongside SA Under-18s Coach and Academy Manager Tony Bamford, Clayton will support the development of coaches at NGA-aligned SANFL clubs, providing benefits for the entire SANFL talent pathway.
Port Adelaide's Manager of Football Services and Player Support Paul Stewart said the appointment was an excellent outcome for the club's development programs.
"This is a fantastic initiative that shows significant investment in strengthening the support and development of talent in our father-son, NGA and female football pathways," Stewart said.
"Mark is a great fit to lead this from a Port Adelaide perspective, alongside our Academies Manager Sean Lemmens. Mark is a true Port Adelaide person who brings strong coaching experience across multiple SANFL and community clubs."
The new full-time role forms part of SANFL's expanded Academy structure, which has already delivered impressive results with South Australian players representing 23 per cent of last month's AFL Draft, including a record seven players selected in round one.
Clayton will be a key pillar in SANFL's Talent department as part of the coaching panels for the SANFL Under-18 and Under-16 Academies preparing for the annual National Championships campaigns.
The appointment supports Port Adelaide's commitment to developing homegrown talent and strengthening pathways for South Australian footballers.
