Port Adelaide congratulates Mark Clayton on his recent appointment as the SANFL's Head of Development.

Clayton joined Port Adelaide in December 2025 as Academies Coach – SANFL & Port Adelaide Football Club. The full-time role was created as part of a significant investment in talent development in South Australia. He arrived from South Adelaide, where he spent eight years as Talent Manager and Under-18 Coach and steered the Panthers to the 2023 SANFL Under-18 premiership, breaking a 30-year drought.

Over the past year, Clayton has coached in the SANFL's Under-18 and Under-16 boys state programs and led the coaching of Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy. His work has sharpened the Club's focus on eligible First Nations and multicultural players and supported coach development across NGA-aligned SANFL clubs.

Just as importantly, Clayton has given his time developing the people around him at Alberton. He has been an outstanding mentor to Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academies Manager, Sean Lemmens, and that guidance will keep paying off for the club’s program long into the future.

Clayton is a former Port Adelaide captain in the SANFL, a SANFL Player Life Member and a veteran of more than 200 SANFL games.

Port Adelaide General Manager – Football Ben Rutten said Clayton’s impact had been felt well beyond the coaching group.

“Mark has been a terrific addition to our football department. He cares deeply about developing young footballers and young coaches, and he's been a wonderful support and mentor to Sean and our entire Next Generation Academy team,” Rutten said.

“Whilst we're sad to see Mark go, we congratulate him on his promotion to lead the SANFL's talent pathway. On behalf of everyone at Port Adelaide we thank Mark and wish him every success.”

Port Adelaide will soon commence the process of replacing Clayton.