2019 will bring some significant anniversaries for the Port Adelaide Football Club.

From countless Premiership commemorations to individuals celebrating 10 years since their AFL debut, there is a lot to look forward to at Alberton his year.

There is also a noteworthy milestone to celebrate regarding the club’s move into the AFL.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of some of the 2019 anniversaries. 

  1. 135 years since Port Adelaide’s first premiership in 1884

The Port Adelaide Football Club won its first South Australian Football Association premiership in 1884 by finishing top of the premiership ladder that season. There were no finals back then! Port Adelaide won 11 of its 15 games and had two draws to finish clear of second-placed Norwood, who had nine wins. Back then Port Adelaide wore a magenta and blue strip.

        2. 65 years since the club’s 15th premiership in 1954

Having finished minor premier, Port Adelaide defeated West Adelaide in the Grand Final on 2 October in front of nearly 43,000 fans. Trailing by 33 points at the first break, the Magpies fought back, finishing winners by just three points, with final scores 11.13 (79) to 10.16 (76). It was the start of an unparalleled period of dominance, which saw Port Adelaide win an Australian-record six premierships in a row.

  1. 60 years since the club’s 20th premiership in 1959

Port Adelaide was once again minor premiers in 1959, winning 17 of 18 minor round matches and finishing a staggering four and a half wins ahead of second-placed West Adelaide. The two top teams met in the Grand Final on 3 October. Port won the game in the first quarter, kicking 5.1 to their opponent’s 1.5. Port maintained its lead throughout the day, but West closed the gap in the last quarter to lose by just 10 points (13.9 to 11.11). Port had now secured a remarkable six premiership in a row (1954-1959), a record for Australian football in the 20th century.

  1. 40 years since the club’s 25th premiership in 1979

Port Adelaide finished second in the minor premiership and took home the flag after storming into the Grand Final. Against sentimental favourite South Adelaide, the game was severely affected by howling winds and rain. After booting five goals straight to nothing in the first quarter, Port held on thanks to defender Greg Phillips continually punching the ball out over the boundary line. The final score was 9.9 (63) to 3.14 (32).

  1. 30 years since the club’s 29th premiership in 1989

Port Adelaide finished runner-up to North Adelaide for the minor premiership in 1989 but were about to turn the tables big-time on the Roosters when they met in the Grand Final at a blustery Football Park on 7 October before 50,487 fans. North was contesting its fourth Grand Final in five years, while Port was aiming to secure back-to-back premierships. Port took total control of the match in the first quarter, and kept North goalless until the third quarter. The Magpies had restricted the hapless Roosters to a final score of just 1.8 (14), while recording its highest winning margin in a final of 94 points.

  1. 25 years since the club’s 32nd premiership in 1994

Port entered the 1994 Grand Final as rank underdog against the hot favourite Eagles. In front of 40,598 fans which included AFL boss Ross Oakley, the Eagles established a lead of just under six goals in the first quarter and appeared headed for a decisive victory before Port fought its way back into the game and booted 9.3 in the last quarter to swamp the Eagles by 37 points, 15.16 (106) to 10.9 (69). The victory added fuel to the case for Port Adelaide to receive the second South Australian AFL licence.

  1. 20 years since the club’s 36th premiership in 1999

Fittingly, minor premiers Port Adelaide met arch rival Norwood in the last Grand Final of the 20th Century at Football Park on Sunday 3 October before 39,135 fans. In an epic last quarter, an inaccurate Port came from behind to win the game in time-on by just eight points, 14.17 (101) to 14.9 (93). After missing two previous Grand Finals through suspension, hard-man Darryl Poole won the 1999 Jack Oatey Medal and was chaired off the ground in his last match for the Magpies.

  1. 15 years since the club’s first AFL premiership and 37th overall, in 2004

Port Adelaide won its history-making first premiership in the AFL with a 40-point win over the Brisbane Lions at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground on 25 September in front of 77,671 patrons. Port dominated the AFL minor round to win its third McClelland Trophy in succession but came up against a Lions outfit which was attempting to secure its fourth premiership in a row. After a closely contested first half with just one point separating the teams, Port powered ahead in the third term and ran over the Lions in the last quarter to win 17.11 (113) to 10.13 (73). 

  1. 10 years since some pretty handy players debuted for the club

It was in Round 4, 2009 that a fresh-faced teenager named Hamish Hartlett took to the MCG to play his first game at AFL level. He managed 23 disposals in 75% of game time, and didn’t look out of place as the Power came home strong to record a 30-point win over Hawthorn.

In Round 16 that year, 18-year-old Matthew Broadbent made his AFL debut. He had 13 disposals and booted two goals as the Power got over West Coast by 36 points. 2009 was also the year Jack Watts made his AFL debut, albeit with Melbourne, where he started his career. Watts’ first game saw him finish on the wrong side of a 66-point drubbing at the hands of Collingwood, while he managed eight disposals and a behind on debut.

  1. Five years since a couple of other handy players debuted for the club

Defenders don’t often burst onto the scene and Tom Clurey didn’t buck the trend when he debuted in Round 1 2014. He had seven touches in 88% game time as the Power fought back from a 22-point deficit and finished 33-point winners over Carlton. Clurey waited over a year to taste defeat at AFL level. His debut game was his sole appearance for 2014, before returning to the side in Round 2, 2015 and playing the next eight games. He’s now a 60-game player and a key part of the Power’s backline. Sam Gray waited longer than most to get his AFL chance. Having joined the AFL list via the rookie draft from the SANFL side, the skilful forward made his debut in Round 4, 2014, booting three goals in a huge win over Brisbane. He won his first five games and has now booted 63 goals in his 76 games.

  1. 10 years since premiership heroes Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne played their last AFL games.

It was not the send-off Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne deserved, a four-point loss to North Melbourne. The Power would miss the finals despite being mathematically in contention ahead of the final game of the season. They played 234 and 240 AFL games for the club respectively and they received a guard of honour on their way off the field. Lade was a two-time All-Australian, premiership player who won the John Cahill Medal as the Power’s best in 2006. Burgoyne won premierships with the club at both AFL and SANFL level, was a Showdown medallist and a member of the Indigenous Team of the Century. 

  1. 10 years since their premiership teammate Toby Thurstans retired

After 110 matches, including the 2004 AFL Grand Final win where he booted three goals, Toby Thurstans called it a day in September 2009, just five days after Lade and Burgoyne received their send-off. Physically and mentally spent, Thurstans’ departure was without fanfare, but his place in history will forever be secured.

  1. 10 years since Jack Trengove was drafted

It was never a case of would he be drafted. It was always a question of whether he would go at number one or two. Melbourne held both picks and so he landed with the Demons at pick 2, after they opted to take Tom Scully with pick 1. The South Australian moved to Melbourne and within two years was named co-captain of the club, becoming the youngest captain in VFL/AFL history.  Injuries hampered his career, but he returned home and joined Port Adelaide as a free agent during the 2017 trade period, winning the Anthony Williams Memorial Trophy as the club’s most courageous SANFL player and finishing runner up in the A. R. McLean Medal awarded to the club’s SANFL best and fairest.

  1. 25 years since the club was awarded its AFL licence

Having failed in 1990 to enter the AFL, Port Adelaide was not going to miss out a second time. Having secured a remarkable premiership win over the Eagles after an even more remarkable season, Port Adelaide finally got the news it was waiting for in December 1994 that it would be the next club to join the AFL. While the next licence would not become available until 1996, there was no guarantee Port would be part of it immediately. The club’s 32 premierships demonstrated its on-field success and a detailed proposal to join the national competition swayed both the AFL and SANFL. The nation’s most successful club would be playing on the biggest stage. Port Adelaide would finally be where it belonged.