Wanganeen is the fifth past Port Adelaide player to be inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame. Image: AFL Photos.

THE Port Adelaide Football Club congratulates former captain, premiership player and club director Gavin Wanganeen on his induction to the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame.

Wanganeen’s brilliant career was recognised this month as of the 2023 inductees, making him the fifth past Port Adelaide player to be given the honour.

Wanganeen played 300 AFL games, including 173 for Port Adelaide, between 1991 and 2006. He was also the club’s inaugural AFL captain, taking on the iconic number one guernsey in 1997 following his time playing with Essendon.

Wanganeen was part of Port Adelaide’s 1990 SANFL Premiership team and its historic 2004 AFL Premiership side.

He also won the 1993 Premiership and that year’s Brownlow Medal while playing with the Bombers.

Gavin Wanganeen pictured after winning the 1993 Brownlow Medal. Image: AFL Photos.

Five times an All-Australian, Wanganeen played eight representative matches for South Australia.

His list of accolades also includes being inducted into Port Adelaide’s Hall of Fame, the Australian Football Hall of Fame and the South Australian Football Hall of Fame, as well as life membership of both Essendon and Port Adelaide.

Gavin Wanganeen was a two-time premiership player with both Essendon and Port Adelaide. Image: AFL Photos.

Wanganeen joins fellow Port Adelaide players Fos Williams AM (2011 inductee), Russell Ebert OAM (2012), John Cahill (2018), Bob Quinn MM (2023) in the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame.

Four-time Magarey Medallist, Ebert was in 2021 elevated to Legend status, just prior to his passing.

Wanganeen was one of eight new inductees announced at the South Australian Sport Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Adelaide Oval alongside former Australian cricket captain Jill Kennare, pioneering sports administrator May Mills, cricketer/footballer John ‘Dinny’ Reedman, cricketer, football umpire and broadcaster Ken ‘KG’ Cunningham, athlete Norma Thrower, the rowing team from Murray Bridge known as 'The Cods', and tennis star Alicia Mollik.

Gavin Wanganeen record
DOB: 18 June 1973
AFL Games: 300 (1991-2006 - 127 Essendon, 173 Port Adelaide)
AFL Goals: 202 (64 Essendon, 138 Port Adelaide)
SANFL Games: 27 (1990-2006)
SANFL Goals: 48
Port Adelaide Captain (AFL): 1997-2000
Port Adelaide Best and Fairest (AFL): 2003
AFL Premierships: 1993 (Essendon), 2004 (Port Adelaide)
AFL Pre-season premierships: 1993, 1994 (Essendon), 2001, 2002 (Port Adelaide)
SANFL Premierships: 1990

Brownlow Medal: 1993
Michael Tuck Medal: 1993
South Australian Representative Matches: 8 games (State of Origin)
All-Australian: 1992-1993, 1995, 2001, 2003

Member of Essendon’s Team of the Century (Left back pocket)
Member of AFL's Indigenous Team of the Century (Left half-back)
Port Adelaide Life Member: 2006
Essendon Life Member
AFL Life Member: 2004
Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame (2008)
South Australian Football Hall of Fame (2012)
Australian Football Hall of Fame (2010)