PORT ADELAIDE CEO Keith Thomas has lauded the Port Adelaide family for showing its support for the club during a difficult time in the world’s landscape.

Thomas says the entire community is going through an uncertain time, but the support that has been shown for the club is extremely humbling.

“Our feeling is they want to stick with us. They know this is a tough time. They want to help wherever they can,” Thomas told Adelaide radio on Thursday morning.

“That’s the sentiment we are feeling, and to be honest it is very humbling.

“The Port Adelaide family has consistently done this over its long journey, and when it happens you just feel unbelievably proud of the community.

“The reality is also that just about everyone in the entirety of the state, the country, the world are being impacted by this, and we aren’t blind to the fact that we are the only ones affected.

“We are going to have to remain flexible, but right now the sentiment is people are just saying - how can we help?”

Thomas has also praised the leadership of the AFL - in conjunction with the government and health minister - for trying to bring some normality back to the community by allowing the start of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

“This is unique in its nature and we are going to have to be pretty good to get through it,” he said.

“I really like the idea that we are having a crack at moving forward. I think everyone in the community is faced with the same challenge.

“How do we manage the disruption that this virus is causing? I like that when we are playing it gives us purpose. It gives us normality. And I think it says something about our sport. We are trying to work our way through it.

“I suspect this year will be highly disrupted, but we are going to push our way through and complete the season.

“I think it’s been great leadership from Gil (McLaughlan) and the AFL.”

Port Adelaide’s season will commence on Saturday evening with its clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, and the CEO said there have been a number of protocols put in place to insure there hasn’t been a spread of the Coronavirus.

“The precautions that are in place for our players have been in place for 2-3 weeks,” Thomas said.

“They extend from a quarantine facility to the way in which we are breaking them up into small groups to train. The coaching meetings are all being zoomed (video conference call) in.

“All of the administration staff are working from home. We are advising them on how to monitor the relationships at home. They are really well briefed.

“We will try and get them in and out of the airport without having to interact with anyone. We will get them into hotels on quarantined floors.

“There isn’t a group in the community who are better placed to work through this. It’s not full-proof, but we are doing all that we can.”

Port Adelaide’s season opener against the Suns at Metricon Stadium will be broadcast from 6.50pm ACDT, with a screening of the club’s 150^th anniversary documentary Onward to Victory to begin at the completion of the game on Channel 7.