Port Adelaide played their first game in May 1870 and has won 36 South Australian league premierships. They joined the AFL side in 1997 and they were the only pre-existing side to join who weren’t from Victoria.
In 1999, Mark Williams become coach of Port Adelaide and this was when they first earned a spot in the finals. Although they were eliminated, team moral was much higher and they went on to have another successful season in 2001. This is when finished their home and away season with 16 win and 6 losses, coming in third on the ladder.
Port Adelaide started off their 2004 season with four straight wins and made it to the Grand Final after defeating St Kilda in a thrilling preliminary final.