On the AFL team’s return from Christmas break, they were greeted on day one with an extra special surprise. A surprise in the form of a golden, fluffy, 12-week-old labradoodle puppy. 

Albert, or ‘Albie’ as he’s been affectionately dubbed, is Port Adelaide’s newest recruit – a mental health support dog whose entire purpose is to do exactly what dogs should do... make people happy. 

Port Adelaide's club clinical psychologist Dr Jess Paterson was the driver behind the meaningful initiative, drawing on previous experience and a strong body of research to create a business case for CEO Matthew Richardson to review, with full support from senior coach Josh Carr and footy boss Ben Rutten. 

The presentation was met with enthusiasm, and soon, the innovative plan was in motion. 

Within a couple of weeks, a suitable puppy was found, and once he was 10 weeks old, he was adopted by the club and ready to be out in the world. 

“It’s only been a couple of weeks, but the impact of having Albie around is already obvious,” Dr Paterson said. 

“The players and staff have absolutely loved having him roam around while they go about their day. Albie is pretty lucky to have 100-plus new friends. 

“His name was chosen by the AFL and AFLW playing groups. There were lots of ideas suggested but Albert was the clear front-runner. And it’s special that his name has a link to where he lives.” 

The positive impacts of mental health support animals are well-documented and wide-ranging, with evidence showing they can improve quality of life, self-efficacy and ability to thrive, while reducing depression and anxiety symptoms.  

“There are other elite sports environments around the world already using therapy dogs to support the mental health and wellbeing of athletes and staff,” Dr Paterson said. 

“From the USA gymnastics and swimming teams, to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL, and the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA, therapy dogs have been shown to have a tangible, positive influence on those around them. 

“We place a real emphasis on nurturing the mental health and wellbeing of our athletes, and Albie plays a part in that. There's a strong link between mental health and athletic performance.” 

As a non-shedding breed, a labradoodle was chosen to minimise allergy risk, while they’ve also been proven to embrace therapy dog training effectively.  

When Albie turns one, he will undergo his official therapy dog training, to increase his ability to support athletes and staff across both the male and female programs. 

Until then though, he can be found padding through the offices, following the players around the gym, or scattering his toys across the open floorplan. 

When Albie needs a break, he wanders into Dr Paterson’s office for a drink and a nap, or finds a quiet spot under someone’s desk to relax.  

And after a long day of belly rubs and cuddles, he heads home with former player and manager of football services and player support Paul Stewart, for plenty of extra love from the three Stewart kids.