Port Adelaide Power has become the first club in Australian Football League history to walk away from the national draft without selecting a single player, a move that immediately made them the brunt of jokes across social media.
The Strategy Behind the Silence
Recruiting manager Geoff Parker has defended the club's unprecedented decision, revealing a clear long-term strategy was at play. Port Adelaide entered the draft with just two late selections, picks 46 and 58, as a direct result of numerous trades executed this year and last.
The club's complex trading activity included dealing out their 2025 first-round pick in a three-club deal that landed them Jack Lukosius and Joe Richards, along with multiple picks in last year's draft. They also traded out this year's second-round selection in a three-way deal that helped secure Corey Durdin from Carlton, which ultimately netted them a second-round pick in next year's draft.
On draft night, the Power traded pick 46 to Gold Coast in exchange for a third-round selection next year. When their final pick at 58 arrived, the club officially passed, making AFL history.
Social Media Reaction and Club Response
The curious move from a club that finished 13th last season and replaced coach Ken Hinkley with Josh Carr quickly became a punchline online. "11 people in a room to do nothing," one fan joked, while another added, "Can't be a draft bust if you never select anyone to begin with." A third supporter quipped, "In all fairness, this is by far Port's greatest ever draft."
Even the club's own social media team embraced the humour, posting a video of an empty couch with the caption "the pass family goes wild on draft night."
Looking Ahead to 2025
Parker explained the method behind the madness, highlighting that the club had already secured talent through other avenues. They prioritised the three rookies acquired in the mid-season draft and upgraded 2024 mid-season rookie Logan Evans to the primary list.
The club's eyes are firmly set on next year's draft, where they will need significant capital to match an expected early bid on Next Generation Academy prospect Dougie Cochrane, who is already in discussions as a potential number one pick. "Our focus was to try and get some capital in next year's draft," Parker stated.
Port Adelaide still holds three picks in this year's rookie draft and is likely to keep a list spot open for potential train-on players, including former North Melbourne and Collingwood speedster Jaidyn Stephenson. Parker noted that the new coaching staff under Josh Carr wants time to assess the current list and consider new AFL rules before making further additions.
