FOR the first time, Port Adelaide has proudly launched a limited edition hat to honour the clubs annual ANZAC Appeal Round, and importantly the 165 past and current players who served in the military.
The 2024 design draws inspiration from AFLW player, Maria Moloney, who balances her professional sporting career at Port Adelaide with serving for her country with the Royal Australian Air Force.
Importantly, $10 from each hat purchased will be donated to Power Community Limited’s (PCL) ADF Veterans program.
The only program of its kind run by an AFL club, the ADF Veterans program brings former defence personnel and ex-AFL players together for a six-week program, empowering veterans to hear from past players and learn new skills as they transition into the next stage of their lives.
The program, now in its fourth year, draws parallels between the elite environments of both fields, and offers ways to tackle the uncertainty that many experience after either career.
Across the six-week block, sessions will be hosted by past and present Port Adelaide players, skilled professionals, and local organisations, with key themes including goal setting, relationships, leadership and mental health and wellbeing.
This year’s intake will be open to more than 80 veterans, an increase of 30 participants year-on-year, while recent government funding will enable regular events to be held throughout the year and promote long-term connections between veterans and players after the program ends.
PCL Program Team Lead, Will Northeast said the proceeds from the hat will hopefully result in no waitlists for the program moving forward.
“The demand for the ADF Veterans program has been so significant that we’ve currently got a waitlist for the 2024 intake,” Mr. Northeast said.
“The additional funding received from the proceeds of the hat sales will mean that the program can grow with the demand in 2025 and beyond, and hopefully the need for a waitlist will be removed.
“We want to help as many veterans as possible and are incredibly grateful to have the support of the club with initiatives like the hat to help us achieve that goal”.
Former participant, now program facilitator, Ash Muir who served in the Australian Air Force for 18 years says the program has changed his life.
“Transition for serving members and veterans can be really challenging. I guess what I felt myself was a loss of identity, a loss of purpose, and just not feeling like I belong in the team anymore. It's just found it quite difficult just to find my place back in civilian life,” Mr. Muir said.
“The ADF Veterans program was life-changing for me.
“The way that they've (PCL) made me feel and included me into the team and the family here has been another huge aspect of my transition.
“Being involved in a club that genuinely cares about defence and veterans, it's pretty cool to be a part of, to the honest. So, I’m super thankful for the opportunities that they've given me, opportunities I didn't think I probably would have ever had.”
Port Adelaide will make an important announcement on how the club will also be supporting RSL South Australia during ANZAC Appeal Round in the coming week.
You can buy the limited-edition hat at the Port Store at Alberton, or at Adelaide Oval.
Port Adelaide will host its annual ANZAC Appeal Round clash, for the 20th consecutive year in a row, under lights at Adelaide Oval against the Saints on Friday, April 26. Tickets are still available.