WHAT do you get when you gather 45 past Port Adelaide players at Alberton for a barbecue on a windy summer afternoon?
You get some tall tales, some good-hearted banter and plenty of opportunity to reminisce on countless premierships.
That was exactly what happened when a barbecue was organised at last minute by Port Adelaide’s Stakeholder Relations Manager David Hutton and a few of his former teammates.
“Normally between the end of the season and Christmas we get together for lunch at a pub at Semaphore or in the Port or somewhere,” Mr Hutton explained to portadelaidefc.com.au.
“It’s usually been a bit ad hoc with a few past players sending a few text messages out but this year because we’re really trying to re-engage with that group and we’ve had so many things we haven’t been able to do due to COVID, we were keen to get something a little more organised.
“I chatted with Tim Ginever, George Fiacchi and Paul Rizonico and we decided we can’t really rock up at a pub in those numbers so we put on a barbecue around the Williams Family Stand.
“It was going to be about a month ago but then the lockdown happened in South Australia and so it was off but we decided at the last minute to go ahead with it, abiding by the state rules, with a very casual lunch and a few drinks to mix and mingle across the generations.”
In fact, there were players representing seven decades with the club including 85-year-old Geoff Motley who won nine premierships in the 1950s and 60s along with the 1964 Magarey Medal.
The event was also the first for club Chief Executive Matthew Richardson in his new role and he took the chance along with Mr Hutton to outline the plans for the redevelopment of the Port Club, including the new club museum.
Mr Hutton said it was a good group, which included a few of the current long-serving volunteers, but he expected to have more in attendance at future gatherings.
“We had people from Geoff Motley and Bob Philp and Brian Luke and Jeff Potter’s era up to Steven Summerton and some of the guys who played more recently for the Magpies and everything in between,” he said.
“It was just great to connect with such a wide range of guys.
“We had about 45 people and I would have had just about as many apologies so we’ll look to do something a few times spread throughout the year – perhaps pre-season, mid-season and then at the end of the season before Christmas.
“The number of apologies we got; I reckon we’ll double the numbers at the next catch-up.”
Mr Hutton hoped more players who had represented the club at AFL level would be able to attend future events, explaining that many, including those involved in the current coaching set-up including Paul Stewart, Chad Cornes, Brett Montgomery, Matthew Lokan, Jarrad Schofield and Shane Grimm, had other commitments given then short notice.
He said the football department was keen to create opportunities for current and past players to learn from each other.
“I’ve spoken with Chris Davies and Ken Hinkley and they’re really keen to find ways to integrate past players with some current players for some functions throughout the year,” Mr Hutton said.
“Ken and Vossy (Michael Voss) and the coaching team are really trying to get that cross connection happening, to give the players that appreciation of all who came before them and set up the culture and traditions of the club, and the past players just long for that connection and engagement with the club.
“The feedback we got from them over the weekend is that they’re rapt with what’s going on they want to be part of it and they just want to see that history and culture of success and family carry on.”
Mr Hutton is updating the club’s database of past players and asked any past player who was not receiving updates from the club to get in touch via email at dhutton@pafc.com.au.
