Emotional Wanganeen has 2004 premiership jumper returned
Watch as Gavin Wanganeen's stolen premiership jumper is returned
PORT Adelaide legend Gavin Wanganeen has been reunited with his 2004 premiership jumper nearly a decade after it went missing from the Power's dressing rooms.
Wanganeen told AFL.com.au in January that he was one of the last players to shower after the historic win and most of his teammates were on the bus as he dressed.
Hope that he would ever find the jumper was all but lost until an anonymous caller reignited the cold case in January, claiming the friend of a relative had snatched it after the game while employed as an MCG cleaner.
The club received another tip-off midway through this season that proved more fruitful, and assistant coach Josh Carr collected the jumper after the club's round 17 game against Richmond at Etihad Stadium.
The Power surprised Wanganeen with the guernsey on Thursday when he was invited to address the playing group about the pressure of expectation.
"It's an amazing feeling; I'd pretty much given up and was resigned to the fact that I'd never see it again," Wanganeen said.
"I haven't seen it in 10 years since I last took it off after the grand final and jumped into the shower.
"It means that it will be able to stay in my family, that I'll be able to hand it down to my son, Tex.
"I can get it framed now, put it on the wall somewhere and regularly look at it and be reminded of that great day in 2004 when our great Port Adelaide footy club won our first premiership in the AFL."
Draft guru Cal Twomey teams up with Nat Edwards and Riley Beveridge to unpack all the winners and surprises from the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft
03:29
Roos explain shock pick swap, praise O’Sullivan
North Melbourne’s Will Thursfield offers insight into his club’s bold trade with Richmond and explains why No.2 pick Finn O’Sullivan is one to watch for fans
06:37
Tigers’ draft jackpot: What’s in store for 2025
Richmond’s Blair Hartley unpacks his club’s impressive draft haul and weighs in on No.1 pick Sam Lalor’s round one hopes
02:34
Jack Whitlock ditches graduation to get drafted
Key forward Jack Whitlock shares his excitement on Draft Night Live after skipping his year 12 graduation to join the Power at pick 33