An AFL great, a SANFL premiership captain, and a team that wrote a defining chapter in the club’s history have been inducted into the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame at a special event at Adelaide Oval on Monday evening. 

Club champions and former captains Matthew Primus and Russell Johnston were honoured alongside the 1988–1990 SANFL premiership teams, recognising their lasting impact across Port Adelaide’s SANFL and AFL eras. 

One of the most decorated players of Port Adelaide’s early AFL era, Primus is inducted for his outstanding influence as both a player and leader at the game’s highest level. 

He played 137 AFL games and booted 76 goals for Port Adelaide across nine seasons, during which his dominance was so pronounced that AFL ruck rules were adjusted in response.  

Appointed club captain from 2001 to 2005, the talented and fearless leader sadly missed Port Adelaide’s 2004 AFL premiership after suffering an ACL injury. 

Primus’ extensive list of accolades includes dual All Australian selection in 2001 and 2002, a John Cahill Medal, Port Adelaide life membership, and induction into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame. 

Following his playing career, Primus transitioned directly into coaching, serving as an assistant coach from 2006 to 2010 under Mark Williams. In July 2010, he was appointed caretaker coach for the remainder of the season before being confirmed as senior coach from 2011 to 2012. 

Primus later continued his coaching journey with roles at the Gold Coast Suns and Southport Football Club, further contributing to the sport beyond Alberton. 

One of the club’s great captains and most loved characters, Russell “Johnno” Johnston is recognised in the Hall of Fame for a glittering SANFL career that spanned a decade. 

After transferring from Collingwood as part of the Mark Williams trade, Johnston became Port Adelaide’s number one ruckman and a premiership captain, playing 207 SANFL games and kicking 72 goals. 

His decorated career included three SANFL premierships, highlighted by captaining the club to back-to-back flags in 1989 and 1990, and claiming the Jack Oatey Medal in the 1989 SANFL Grand Final.  

Johnston served as club captain from 1986 to 1990 and was awarded the club’s best and fairest honour in 1989. 

A six-time state representative, he was awarded Port Adelaide life membership and SANFL player life membership in 1990. He was later named as the lead ruckman in the Power’s Greatest Team (1870–2000) and ranked #48 in Port Adelaide’s Best 150 Players of All Time. 

The 1988–1990 SANFL premiership teams are recognised in the team’s category as one of the most significant chapters in Port Adelaide history — a defining era that underpinned the club’s rise into the national competition. 

Under the return of John Cahill as coach and the leadership of captain Russell Johnston, Port Adelaide claimed three consecutive premierships, ending a drought since 1981 and launching an extraordinary period of success that saw the club claim nine SANFL premierships in 12 years. 

This sustained success played a critical role in strengthening Port Adelaide’s national profile and was a key component of its successful bid to join the AFL in 1997. 

Chairman David Koch said it was the outstanding character of each inductee that embodies what makes Port Adelaide and its community so special.  

“There is a certain character about Port Adelaide. It's hard to put into words sometimes, but you know it when you see it,” Mr Koch said. 

“When tonight's inductees speak, I want you to pause and reflect. Listen to their stories. Who they are as people. The sacrifices they made. Their connection to family and community. Their humility. 

“Yes, there's a hard edge – they were tough, make no mistake. But there's something more. A community spirit, a selflessness, an authenticity that can't be faked. That's the Port Adelaide way. 

“And that character flows through everything we do at this club – including the exciting changes we've made heading into 2026.” 

The latest inductions mean the Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame now comprises 52 individuals and six teams or groups.  

2026 Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame inductees  

Matthew Primus 

AFL games: 137 (1997-2005)  

AFL goals: 76 

AFL Honours  

- All Australian selection (2001, 2002 – vice captain)  
- International Rules selection (2002) 
- South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee (2014)  

Club Honours  

- John Cahill Medal runner-up (1997)  
- Port Adelaide best team man (2000, 2001) 
- John Cahill Medal winner (2002) 
- Port Adelaide captain (2002, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) 
- Port Adelaide life member (2006) 
- Port Adelaide coach (2010, 2011, 2012)  

Russell Johnston 

SANFL games: 207 (1981 – 1990) 

SANFL goals: 72 

Club honours: 

• SANFL premiership player (1981, 1989, 1990)
• Jack Oatey Medal (1989 Grand Final)
• Port Adelaide best and fairest (1989)
• Port Adelaide captain (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)
• Premiership captain (1989, 1990)
• Port Adelaide life member (1990)
• SANFL life member (1990)  

1988-90 SANFL premiership teams 

Senior Coach   

John Cahill  

Captain   

Russell Johnston 

Acting Captain (1988) Martin Leslie   

1988 

Port Adelaide 12.12 (84) defeated Glenelg 8.7 (55) 

Football Park, Oct 1st.  Crowd: 50,313 

Goals: Hodges 4, Brown, Ginever 2, Foster, Harrison, R. Smith, S. Williams 1 

Jack Oatey Medal: Bruce Abernethy 

Port Adelaide team 
FB: G Fiacchi, R Delaney, G Boyd 
HB: B Abernethy, G Phillips, M Leslie (a-c) 
C: D Hutton, S Williams, P Harrison 
HF: R Smith, D Smith, R Foster 
FF: W Mahney, S Hodges, D Brown 
Ruck: D Hynes, A Obst, T Ginever 
Int: G Phelps, R Kerr 

1989 

Port Adelaide 15.18 (108) defeated North Adelaide 1.8 (14) 

Football Park, Oct 7th.  Crowd: 50,487 

Goals: Hodges, D Smith 4, R Boyd, A Obst 2, Hutton, R. Smith, Tregenza 1 

Jack Oatey Medal: Russell Johnston 

Port Adelaide team 

B: G Fiacchi, R Delaney, G Boyd 
HB: B Abernethy, G Phillips, P Northeast 
C: D Hutton, S Williams, S Tregenza 
HF: R Smith, D Smith, W Mahney 
F: D Hynes, Hodges, D Brown 
Ruck: R Johnston (c), A Obst, T Ginever 
Int: R Boyd, P Harrison  

1990 

Port Adelaide 16.12 (108) defeated Glenelg 13.15 (93) 

Football Park, Oct 7th.  Crowd: 50,589 

Goals: Hodges 6, Settre 3, Smith, Wanganeen 2, Mahney, S Williams, M Williams 1 

Jack Oatey Medal: George Fiacchi 

Port Adelaide team 
B: G Fiacchi, B Harris, P Rizonico 
HB: B Abernethy, G Phillips, P Northeast 
C: D Hutton, S Williams, S Tregenza 
HF: R Foster, D Smith, W Mahney 
F: D Hynes, Hodges, G Wanganeen 
Ruck: R Johnston (c), M Williams, T Ginever 
Int: A Settre, G Phelps