DOMENIC Cassisi has been appointed captain of the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Rugged midfielder Cassisi, 26, has played 128 games for the Power since being drafted at the end of the 2000 season. He is the 61st captain of the Port Adelaide Football Club, and just the 12th since 1950.

Shaun Burgoyne and Kane Cornes have been appointed vice-captains of the club.

Cassisi, Burgoyne and Cornes were all picked in the same draft (2000), with Burgoyne taken at pick 12, Cornes at pick 20 and Cassisi at pick 50. All three played in the Power’s 2004 premiership side.

Port Adelaide President Brett Duncanson says the club was blessed to have a field of quality candidates for the captaincy role, with Cassisi winning through.

“We have run an exhaustive process, with the on-field and off-field leadership abilities of the players all taken into consideration,” Duncanson said.

“While we had an outstanding field of candidates, in the end it was a clear decision for us. Dom has emerged very, very strongly over the last two years, and in the last 12 months in particular.

“His club-first and selfless attitude, both on and off-field, has won the absolute respect of the playing group, management and coaching staff.

“With Shaun and Kane supporting Dom, we now have a young and dynamic leadership trio in place which will serve us well into the future, providing long-term stability at the footy club.”

In 2008 Cassisi finished second in the club’s best-and-fairest count, and won the best team man and player’s player (Fos Williams Medal) awards.

Cassisi says the appointment is humbling.

“I take great honour in being named captain of the Port Adelaide Football Club,” Cassisi said. “The support I have received from Choco, the leadership group, the coaching staff and my teammates has been overwhelming to say the least.

“Their support – along with the support of my fiancé and our families – has been vital to me being given the opportunity to lead this great club of ours.

“I now look forward to getting to work as we build a successful 2009 and beyond.”

Power coach Mark Williams says the appointment of Cassisi marks a new era for Port Adelaide.

“Dom will be an outstanding captain for this football club,” Williams said.

“He is a typical Port Adelaide captain – a hard and tough player who leads by example.

“Dom has enormous respect within the playing group, and has always shown great interest in the welfare of other players.

“He also has a terrific sense of humour, which I’m sure will come through as the public get to know him.”

As captain, Cassisi will take on the No. 1 guernsey, as is the long standing tradition at the club. His No. 25 jumper will remain vacant during his time as captain.