Port Adelaide has removed Warren Tredrea from its board after the former club great refused to apologise for comments made by a guest on his podcast.
An interview published in May with a former British Army veteran drew criticism from the Jewish Council of Australia, accusing it of amplifying far-right antisemitic conspiracy theories, prompting the AFL club to commence a governance review.
At the time, Tredrea said on social media he was not “in any way, shape, or form, an antisemite”, and considered it “defamatory for anyone to accuse me as such”.
After the governance review, the Port Adelaide board formally requested Tredrea agree to an apology to the club and anyone who took offence to the comments made on the podcast. The club revealed today the 46-year-old had refused, triggering his removal.
“The board has afforded Mr Tredrea numerous opportunities to reconsider his position, which he has not changed,” a statement released on Friday stated.
“After exhausting all reasonable avenues for resolution, the board determined that Mr Tredrea’s continuation as a director was not in the best interests of the club.”
Tredrea posted to X on Friday after the club’s announcement, saying it had been “an enlightening couple of years”.
“I am concerned about the actions taken by a number of important people at our club which have led to my dismissal today,” he said.
“I will be making further and fuller statements in the future but for now I’d just like to wish Josh [Carr, AFL coach], Lauren [Arnell, AFLW coach] and the entire AFL, AFLW and SANFL playing group every success going forward.”
He had been elected to the Port Adelaide board last year for a three-year term, edging out another former player, Bruce Abernethy, by just 199 votes in a ballot of 10,405 members.
At the time, president David Koch said of Tredrea: “It will be terrific to have his knowledge and experience around the board table.”
Friday’s club statement said the board wanted to “make clear” this was a governance matter relating to “its expectations” of directors.
“It is not, and should never be interpreted as, a reflection on Warren Tredrea’s extraordinary contribution to Port Adelaide as a player,” it said.
The former centre half-forward played 255 games for Port, and led the side to its only premiership in 2004 when he filled in as captain for injured ruckman Matthew Primus.
He became full-time captain in 2006 when Primus retired, and led the Power back to a grand final in 2007, before hanging up his boots in 2010 for a career in the media.
Tredrea took Channel Nine to court for unfair termination after his refusal of the Covid vaccine, but his case was dismissed last year.
“Warren Tredrea is a premiership captain, club champion, and one of the greatest players to represent the club. His legacy as a player is secure and will forever be celebrated by this club and our members,” the club said.
“That legacy remains untarnished and separate from this governance decision.”
