Warren Tredrea removed from Port Adelaide board after podcast controversy | AFL
Port Adelaide has removed Warren Tredrea from its board after the former club great refused to apologize for comments he made on a guest’s podcast.
A published interview with a British Army veteran in May sparked criticism from the Jewish Council of Australia, which accused it of promoting far-right anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, and led the AFL club to launch a management review.
At the time, Tredrea stated on social media that he was “in no way anti-Semitic” and that he considered it “slanderous for anyone to accuse me in this way.”
Following the governance review, the Port Adelaide board demanded Tredrea formally apologize to the club and anyone who disagreed with the comments made on the podcast. The club announced today that the 46-year-old rejected the request, triggering his dismissal.
“The Board gave Mr. Tredrea multiple opportunities to reconsider his position, which he has not changed,” the statement said Friday.
“After exploring all reasonable avenues for resolution, the board has determined that it is not in the best interests of the club for Mr. Tredrea to continue as director.”
Tredrea posted to the X on Friday following the club’s announcement, saying it had been an “eye-opening few years.”
“I am concerned about the actions of some key people at our club that led to my expulsion today,” he said.
“I will make further and more comprehensive statements in the future, but for now I wish Josh this: [Carr, AFL coach]Lauren [Arnell, AFLW coach] and every success of the entire AFL, AFLW and SANFL playing group going forward.”
He was elected to a three-year term on the Port Adelaide board last year, beating out another former player, Bruce Abernethy, by just 199 votes in a poll of 10,405 members.
At the time, chairman David Koch said of Tredrea: “It will be great to have his knowledge and experience at the board table.”
A club statement on Friday said the board wanted to “clarify” that this was a management matter regarding its “expectations” of managers.
“This is not, and should never be interpreted as, a reflection of Warren Tredrea’s outstanding contribution to Port Adelaide as a player,” he said.
The former centre-half forward played 255 games for Port and led the team to their only title in 2004 when he captained injured ruckman Matthew Primus.
He became full-time captain in 2006, the year Primus retired, and guided the Power back to the grand final in 2007 before hanging up his boots for a career in the media in 2010.
Tredrea took Channel Nine to court for unfair termination after she refused the Covid vaccine, but her case was dismissed last year.
“Warren Tredrea is a captain, a club champion and one of the finest players to have represented the club. His legacy as a player is secure and will forever be celebrated by this club and our members,” the club said.
“This legacy remains untarnished and separate from this executive decision.”
