The Port Adelaide Football Club is proud to announce the strategic partnership with the Australian Defence Force Australian Rules Association (ADFAR) has been renewed for a further five years, continuing the long-standing relationship between the organisations.
Underpinning the renewed agreement is both the club’s rich history with the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and Port Adelaide’s not-for-profit arm, Power Community Limited’s (PCL) programs designed for the ADF community.
PCL’s ADF Veterans program draws on the similarities of transitioning from high performing environments and sees ex AFL players and ADF veterans come together to reidentify a sense of purpose and community connection.
While the Power to Thrive program is a resilience and wellbeing program designed specifically for children from ADF families. The program offers a wide range of tools and resources that address the mental, emotional and practical needs of military families.
The ADF Veterans program has provided support to more than 270 participants since inception in 2021, while the Power to Thrive program will see more than 300 children this year alone.
The combination of these veteran support programs, and the club’s rich history of more than 164 past players who served in the military, provided the perfect platform for the strategic partnership to continue and drive ongoing outcomes in the ADF community.
The partnership will see the club and ADFAR mutually support each other’s objectives to continue driving positive outcomes within the ADF community including connection, identity and purpose.
It will also provide the ADF AFL All-Stars men’s team and AFL wheelchair programs with access training facilities, and curtain raiser match opportunities.
The renewal was announced at PCL’s annual Power to Thrive family event designed to provide children of ADF families with an opportunity to regularly connect with other likeminded children who are also forced to relocate frequently.
Speaking at the event, Port Adelaide midfielder Jason Horne-Francis acknowledged the importance of playing a role in connecting children of ADF families.
“We get the privilege to come down here and connect as many kids as we can,” Horne-Francis said.
“It's so important to give back to young fans. You know, I was one of the young fans not long ago that was looking up to players. Whatever (way) I can give back to the community, we try to do it as much as we can. This is why the clinics that we have out here today are so important.
“We get the easy job of going (out) there and playing. They've got the tough job. So, that's why this round is so important, just to reflect on them, and pay our respects to them.”
The announcement comes as the club prepares to host the Anzac Appeal Round game for the 21st consecutive year, which will feature a series of meaningful initiatives that reinforce the club’s rich history with the ADF.
It also follows the release of the club’s annual commemorative guernsey which will see 100 percent of the proceeds generated from the player issued auction donated back to club’s veterans support programs, and RSL South Australia respectively.
Tickets for Port Adelaide’s ANZAC Appeal Round clash against North Melbourne still available.