LATSET NEWS: Warren Tredrea is elected to the board of the Port Adelaide Football Club.

Warren Tredrea, a former captain of the AFL premiership, has been elected to a three-year term on the Port Adelaide board.

With 50.9 percent of the vote, Tredrea won the Director race, according to the club; Bruce Abernethy received 49.1 percent of the vote.

The two contenders were separated by just 199 votes.

Tredrea’s high-level expertise in the game as a champion player and in the media, according to Port Adelaide Football Club Chairman David Koch, made him “a fantastic addition to the club’s Board of Directors.” Koch also praised the vote.

Koch remarked, “Having his knowledge and experience around the Board table will be terrific.”
10,405 member ballots in all, which is a historically high number, were received.

It’s encouraging to see so many supporters of their football team participating in the outcome, which was really close.

“I want to express my gratitude to Bruce Abernethy for proposing me for membership on the board as an elected director. Bruce is a Port Adelaide champion as well, and it’s great to see former players still associated with the team.

Tredrea takes over for Kathy Nagle, who chose not to run again when her three-year term ended.

“Over the last three years, Kathy has made a significant contribution to the Port Adelaide Football Club and has contributed valuable skills and knowledge to the Board,” Koch stated.

“Kathy is a very passionate supporter of Port Adelaide, and I hope she stays involved with the club.”

Despite playing in 255 games over 14 seasons and leading the team to its first AFL Premiership in 2004, his election comes after months of conjecture about the implications for the team.

In January, Michelangelo Rucci dispelled numerous myths regarding their genuine intentions in a piece he wrote for InDaily. He focused in particular on coach Ken Hinkley.

Rucci remarked, “It would be incorrect to characterize Abernethy as pro-Hinkley,” despite the fact that the struggle for the board chair could be observed from the outside with Abernethy siding with Hinkley and Tredrea demanding his removal.

Abernethy told Rucci, “I am at a point in my life where I can invest back into my club.”

“I adore my soccer team. I now have the opportunity to support my football team in some way. Why not?

Tredrea said almost the same thing in private.

When asked why he decided to join the Alberton board, Tredrea has responded, “I am in a space of my life when I can help (my club)”.