Broken Hill boy and Magpies six-decade volunteer inducted into Port Adelaide Hall of Fame
PORT Adelaide have seen premiership players, and a Magarey Medallist come out of the Silver City, but it has been said that the club’s greatest export from Broken Hill to the Port Adelaide Football Club has been volunteer Alf Trebilcock.
Long-time servant Trebilcock was recognised after 58 seasons at the club, with induction to the prestigious Magpies Hall of Fame.
On Friday, February 14 he, along with Robbie Gray and the drought breaking 1977 premiership team were awarded the special honour.
Having initially combined his volunteer work with a demanding job running his own butcher’s store in the Adelaide Central Market, Trebilcock has carefully looked after the boots of hundreds of players over the past six decades, witnessing the transition from ankle-high boots with knock-in timber studs to today’s multi-coloured ultra-light models.
Starting as a boot studder in 1968, he was involved in 11 SANFL premierships before shifting into the AFL program in 1997 and playing his part in the 2004 AFL premiership.
Trebilcock’s induction into the club’s Hall of Fame follows his awarding of life membership of Port Adelaide back in 1979 and the AFL’s prestigious Jack Titus Award for conspicuous service for the game in 2013.
“I initially barracker for West Broken Hill and only ever played school footy,” Trebilcock said.
“I am a butcher by trade, doing my apprenticeship in Broken Hill with Syd Langford and Sons on Mica Street.
“I was educated at Burke Ward School to Grade 7 and had three years of high school.
“Moving to Adelaide in 1961, I had job in a fortnight with Christies Meat at Semaphore.
“All my relatives in Adelaide that followed the Port Adelaide Magpies.
“Through a friendship Harry Vincent, the runner for Port Adelaide, he told me about a vacancy in the boot department.
“Jack Papp the head sprigger had a chat to me asked if was prepared to learn, that, after a talk with Big Bob McLean started another this time a seven-year apprenticeship.”
Trebilcock started 1968 started, saw his first flag in his role in 1977 premiership, a special moment after a 12-season hiatus.
He regards the life membership honour bestowed upon him as another highlight in 1979.
When the Power got going in 1996 Trebilcock recalled Jack Cahill getting the support staff played a role in bonding the player in Largs Bays.
He also called the 2004 Power flag win over Brisbane another milestone day in the clubs and his life.
Trebilcock also has a special and unique relationships with Port Adelaide’s most decorated footballer four-time Magarey Medallist, 392-game six-time best and fairest at the Magpies, the late Russell Ebert.
“Russell and I started at Alberton in the same year, 1968,” he said.
“He was a special player could do things other footballers couldn’t
“He has an Achilles problem, and we put a heel in his shoes to help alleviate that.
“On his statue at Adelaide Oval Russell made sure they had a heel on his boots.
“I still have photos Russell signed for me at the statue.
“I was close to all the players at Alberton.”
Trebilcock talked about a number of Magpies greats including John Cahill, Fos Williams, Greg Phillips, Ian Hannaford and Bruce Light amongst them.
There were plenty of lighter moments along the journey as well.
“After a modest first half, Maxy James came in and tossed his boots at me at half time,” Trebilcock said.
“He said ‘What’s wrong with these boots you gave me Alf’.
“I took ‘em away, but didn’t do anything with them.
“After I passed them back to him, Max went out and kicked eight second-half goals.”
Always humble Trebilcock explained that he felt so grateful and lucky for what the Port Adelaide Football Club have given him
He will turn 83 in May, continuing “While I’m able I want to keep going.”
At the event club chair David Koch said after thanking the 2025 inductees for their service to the club, saying “The Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame is about honouring incredible feats and celebrating unmatched dedication, passion and service.
“If you look through the list of inductees over the years it is clear they are icons of our club, and more than that are icons of our game,” he continued.
“Each has contributed to Port Adelaide standing above all others in the record books.
“Tonight’s inductions are proof that great clubs are made up of great people, and it is fitting that we celebrate Robbie, Alf and the 1977 premiership heroes.
“To Robbie, Alf and our 1977 inductees, congratulations and thank you for all that you have done and sacrificed for the Port Adelaide Football Club.”
