Port Adelaide Power

The top ten Port Adelaide Power players of the 21st century

Are these the ten best players to have called Alberton home this century?

Published by
Zero Hanger

Throughout the final years of the 1990s, AFL clubs across the land looked backward rather than forward, with selectors, historians and superstars converging to name their Teams of the 20th Century.

So, as we near the quarter-time mark of the 21st century, what better time to run the rule on which players are likely to feature when the selectors of tomorrow get together in several decades' time?

While every club has an array of deadset legends that can be called on, we here at Zero Hanger have employed the following rules of selection:

  • Only statistics recorded and achievements accrued since the start of the 2000 AFL season will be acknowledged.
  • All statistics and awards must have been accrued while playing for the club in question.
  • Any player selected must have played at least 100 senior games for their respective club since the start of the 2000 AFL season.

Next up, we he to Alberton to assess which Port players stand above the pack.

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Gavin Wanganeen (2000-2006)

1 x best and fairest (2003)
2 x All-Australian (2001 and 2003)
1 x premiership player (2004)
121 games, 16.7 disposals per game, 111 goals, 0.9 goals per game, 31 Brownlow votes, 0.25 votes per game

The face of the club during Port's formative years in the AFL, the Brownlow medallist proved to be a perfect poster boy for Power fans, leading well from the front.

After handing the captaincy reins over at the end of the 2000 season, Wanganeen failed to fade entirely into the background, racking up a pair of All-Australians, a John Cahill Medal and slotting four crucial goals during the club's only AFL grand final win.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 3: Warren Tredrea #16, Gavin Wanganeen #4 and Mark Williams coach of Port celebrate winning the round 18 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground August 3, 2003 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

Justin Westhoff (2007-2020)

1 x best and fairest (2018)
280 games, 313 goals, 1.1 goals per game

While never the leading man inside Port's forward 50, Westhoff gave the Power great service across his 14-year career in teal, acting as second in charge to the likes of Warren Tredrea, Jay Schultz and Charlie Dixon.

Also able to chop out in the ruck, the South Australian proved to have several strings to his bow, allowing him to rack up the third-most games in the club's AFL history.

PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Justin Westhoff of the Power celebrates after scoring a goal during the round 16 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Port Adelaide Power at Domain Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Will Russell/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Chad Cornes (2000-2011)

2 x All-Australian (2004 and 2007)
1 x premiership player (2004)
233 games, 18.5 disposals per game 2.9 inside 50s and 2.3 rebound 50s

Able to play well in just about any position on the ground, Cornes proved a most valuable asset during the Mark Williams era.

With a frame built by pumping iron and a will stronger enough to bend it, few ever beat the eldest Cornes during his days at Alberton.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 03: Chad Cornes of the Power looks to pass the ball during the round two AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and Port Adelaide Power at Subiaco Oval on April 3, 2010 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Connor Rozee (2019-present)

1 x best and fairest (2022)
1 x leading goalkicker (2019)
2 x All-Australian (2022 and 2023)
106 games, 19.2 disposals per game, 98 goals, 0.9 goals per game, 40 Brownlow votes, 0.4 votes per game

At just 24 and with another nine seasons left to run on his deal, Rozee has more than enough time to shoot himself to the top of this list in the years to come.

And with a growing swag of awards already to his name and the skipper's armband his and his alone, it would take a brave better to wager the Port Augusta native won't be standing on the podium in another season or two.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Connor Rozee of the Power celebrates a goal during the round three AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Port Adelaide Power at The Gabba on April 06, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Chad Wingard (2012-2018)

1 x best and fairest (2013)
2 x leading goalkicker (2015 and 2016)
2 x All-Australian (2013 and 2015)
147 games, 232 goals, 1.6 goals per game, 18.3 disposals per game

His stay with Port Adelaide may have only lasted seven seasons, but Wingard burned bright across this stretch, acting as one of the most damaging forwards in the competition, both on the ground and in the air.

While the Sturt product's efficiency may have fallen off a cliff after trading teal for brown and gold, few who pray in the direction of Alberton will forget Wingard's Showdown efforts in 2013 or his Mark of the Year a season later.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 08: Chad Wingard of the Power celebrates with spectators after the round seven AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval on May 8, 2016 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

Ollie Wines (2013-present)

1 x Brownlow Medal (2021)
1 x best and fairest (2021)
1 x All-Australian (2021)
228 games, 25.2 disposals per game, 120 Brownlow votes, 0.5 votes

As the Power's lone Brownlow medallist, Wines was always going to feature near the summit of this list.

Though all of his individual achievements came during the one season, the Echuca native's 2021 season was one to savour, with Wines averaging 32.7 disposals, 5.9 clearances and one-and-a-half Brownlow votes.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Ollie Wines of the Power points for his team mates to go forward during the 2021 AFL Round 06 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the St Kilda Saints at Adelaide Oval on April 25, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Kane Cornes (2001-2015)

4 x best and fairest (2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012)
2 x All-Australian (2005 and 2007)
1 x premiership player (2004)
300 games, 23.5 disposals per game

Better known these days for his rapid-fire hot takes, Cornes was once the premier tagger in the game, routinely putting out midfield spotfires while also finding the footy himself.

While never the most skilled name at Alberton, few can claim to have eked more out of themselves than Cornes, who worked tirelessly across 15 seasons, earning four best and fairests and a pair of All-Australian blazers.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 24: Kane Cornes of the Power walks from the field after his 300th and last game after the round eight AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Richmond Tigers at Adelaide Oval on May 24, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Warren Tredrea (2000-2010)

4 x best and fairest (2001, 2005, 2005 and 2009)
6 x leading goalkicker (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2009)
4 x All-Australian (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004)
1 x premiership player (2004)
217 games, 476 goals, 2.2 goals per game

Port through and through, Tredrea, a former Magpies premiership player, is the only Power captain to have saluted on the last Saturday in September after standing in for injured captain Matthew Primus.

While the South Australian never claimed Coleman Medals honours during his storied career, few rivalled Tredrea during his time at Alberton, with the spearhead earning eight leading goalkicker gongs, including six this century.

PORT ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: Warren Tredrea of the Port Adelaide Power talks to the media as he announces his AFL retirement at the Port Adelaide headquarters on July 27, 2010 in Port Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

Travis Boak (2007-present)

2 x Best and fairest (2011 and 2019)
3 x All-Australian (2013, 2014 and 2020)
348 games, 23.65 disposals per game, 174 Brownlow votes, 0.5 votes per game

The current heart and soul of the Port Adelaide Football Club, few players are more deserving of a premiership than Travis Boak.

Tough, skilled, precise and well-prepared, the Victorian is a true professional, and like a true Port great, Boak also saves his best for the cross-town Crows, having claimed a trifecta of Showdown Medals.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 26: Travis Boak of the Power celebrates a goal during the 2019 AFL round 06 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Adelaide Oval on April 26, 2019 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Robbie Gray (2007-2022)

3 x best and fairest (2014, 2015 and 2016)
2 x leading goalkicker (2011 and 2018)
4 x All-Australian (2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018)
271 games, 19.4 disposals per game, 367 goals, 1.35 goals per game, 97 Brownlow votes, 0.35 votes per game.

Whether up forward or in the guts, few gave more to the Power's cause this century than Gray, a silky smooth deadeye from Melbourne's outer eastern suburbs.

While South Australia would eventually become home, Gray had a biblical ability to part the City of Churches, with Port fans praising him and Crows fans in fits as the hybrid threat racked up an unparalleled five Showdown Medals during his days in teal.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Robbie Gray of the Power (L) celebrates the win with Travis Boak of the Power after winning his 200th match during the round one AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Port Adelaide Power at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 23, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Published by
Zero Hanger