The competition, run through the club’s junior program, Planet Teal, gave kids the chance to design their dream Power guernsey. The club was inundated with more than 5,500 entries this year, almost double the number received in last year’s competition.
The Power will wear Marlon’s winning design as a one-off in Saturday’s clash with Melbourne at AAMI Stadium.
Marlon will run onto the ground with the team on Saturday, through the banner, and have his photo taken with the team. He will also be joined by 21 of his lucky Rostrevor College classmates to make up the Power 22, who will have a kick and catch on ground before the game and do a lap of honour with the Thundabolt float.
Port Adelaide President Greg Boulton said the Power Guernsey Competition was a unique way to engage kids.
“The Port Adelaide Football Club is committed to the kids of South Australia, and the guernsey competition is a unique feature of our fantastic Planet Teal program that continues to grow,” Boulton said.
“It’s the second year the club has run the competition, and judging by the response, the kids absolutely love it, and so does the club.”
Marlon will today be presenting the Power’s youngest player, and namesake, Marlon Motlop, with his first guernsey ahead of his AFL debut on Saturday.
Cousin of Daniel, 18-year-old Motlop, will become the Power’s fifth debutant in just four weeks.
The electrifying small forward was impressed with his younger namesake’s guernsey design.
“It looks really good, I think Marlon’s done a great job,” Motlop said. “I can’t wait to wear it on Saturday.”
The final decision on the guernsey was made by officials from the Port Adelaide Football Club and Reebok – who manufactured the guernsey – with final approval from the AFL.
The design was selected according to established criteria as follows: the inclusion of club colours, not dark in base, simple and clear so it is easily seen on television and by supporters at the ground, and unique, in that it has not been worn as a guernsey by the club previously.
The unique guernseys will not be available for retail sale. However, the 22 match-worn guernseys will be signed by the player who wore it and available through an online auction via the club’s website - PortAdelaideFC.com.au - following the game.
The guernsey was unveiled at 2pm today at Rostrevor College, with the two Marlons meeting and seeing the guernsey for the first time.
Saturday’s match-day will not only feature the one-off guernsey but a parachute display thanks to Scouts SA.
Three parachutists will skydive into AAMI Stadium on Saturday, carrying a flag and wearing Marlon’s Planet Teal guernsey. 2008 is the Year of the Scout.
