Luke Power Biography

Luke Power is named the AFLCA assistant coach of the year for 2021 after moving from his role as Carlton's head of development to stoppages coach mid-season.

Luke Power will oversee the Carlton College of Sport, which has launched a new football development plan where young footballers are able to enroll in a program working with the Blues' high-performance staff and a dedicated coach to develop their skills.

In addition, they will also gain a tertiary qualification with a diploma of sport coaching and development or elite sport business.

Luke Power says he has a special bond with Lachie Whitfield who will play in his 100th game this week.

Power worked with Whitfield during his time as an assistant coach at the Giants and also during Whitfield's suspension for attempting to evade a drug test.

"I spent a lot of time with him in Melbourne and he's very highly regarded within my family," Power said.

"We have a lot of time for him, he's a really good person from a really great family.

"While the ban wasn't a positive time for him, I guess he got to take some positives from it.

"He got to learn the discipline of training by himself and being able to do all that hard work."

Luke Power says the chance to shape the country's leading young talent was the driving motivation in taking on the role as head coach of the NAB AFL Academy after five years with Greater Western Sydney.

"I was leaving Sydney for family reasons, we had been up there for five years and I absolutely loved the club and what Leon's doing up there. It's a values-based club and terrific place, and I wanted to continue working for them and I was coming back to Melbourne to do that," Power said.

"Then obviously 'Sando' accepted a job at Collingwood and the role came up. I made an enquiry and the difference between that and the recruiting job was I got to have a big influence on being able to help some of these players, and give them what I've been given throughout my career.

"Whereas in my other role I would've probably been sitting back and judging them and not being able to help them with their development. That was the important thing for me."

Luke Power is named new coach of the NAB AFL Academy, taking over the role from Brenton Sanderson.

Power will head up the prestigious talent program after beating out a number of credentialed applications for the position.

Former Giant and Lion Luke Power has been awarded the AFL Players Association Madden Medal for demonstrating on-field excellence, personal development and growth, as well as community spirit over the course of his playing career.

"He retires as a triple premiership player with 302 games at the elite level, as well as having co-captained the Brisbane Lions and more recently the Greater Western Sydney Giants, he has been a genuine star of the game for well over a decade," AFL CEO Matt Finnis said about Power.

"The work he has done for his fellow players has been exceptional and having worked closely with Luke during his role as a delegate, board member and eventually the president of the AFL Players' Association, I can say he is one of the most impressive individuals I have come across in this game."

Port Adelaide are in danger of losing prized 2010 first-round draft pick Ben Jacobs with the defender eyeing a move home to Melbourne.

"He's not sure what he wants to do but obviously we are very keen to keep him at our club," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

Port Adelaide midfield coach Josh Carr says Ben Jacobs remains a required player despite reports linking him with a move home to Victoria.

"Benny obviously had a lot of opportunities and played a lot of games in his first two years at this football club, and we think he's a big part of where we want to go," Carr said.

"Hopefully he sorts that out over the next few weeks and we're hoping he'll be here with us. There's no doubt he's important to where we want to go."

Port Adelaide CEO Keith Thomas reveals Brett Ratten's desire to be a senior assistant elsewhere was behind Ratten's withdrawal from the Power coaching race.

"I can confirm that Brett Ratten did present to the panel, and has subsequently withdrawn from the race citing the fact that he believes a senior assistant role somewhere may be more appropriate for him in the immediate aftermath of his Carlton experience," Thomas wrote in a letter on the club's website.

"We respect his decision."

Luke Power - the GWS star and former Lion - has called it a day after three premierships and 302 games.

"Luke is one of the most respected people in the game and has been a wonderful leader for our young players on and off the field over the past 12 months," Giants chief executive David Matthews said.

"He showed this year that he was still capable of playing very good football and his 300th game against Melbourne in Canberra was a great highlight for him and the Giants. He will always have a special place in the history of this club as one of its inaugural captains."

Travis Boak reveals plans set in place by discarded coach Matthew Primus played a role in his decision to stay at Alberton.

"I sat down with Matty towards the end and he explained where the club was heading and that was something I was really happy with," Boak said.

"After the Matty decision I spoke to the club again and just wanted to be reassured of where it was going.

"They reassured me it was along the same path and I'm really happy about that and really excited by it."

The media reports that Port Adelaide have flagged Melbourne Demons club champion Brent Moloney as a prospective free agent recruit for the Power next year.

"Obviously we'll wait to see what happens with Melbourne but if things can't be worked out there, yes, Brent would be interested in hearing what the Power has to say," Moloney's manager, Bruce Kaider said.

"Brent's body is sound, his mind is good, he wins contested footy and he would be a good on and off-field leader for a young side, which Port is.

"Brent is a professional footballer, he wants to play a high level of footy and he would quite happily move interstate if it was in his best interests."

Luke Power says he is grateful to GWS coach Kevin Sheedy for helping him reach 300 games, even if it means playing as a sub at times.

"Sheeds had a couple of players at Essendon I think who fell a couple of games short of 300 and he was really keen for me to get there," Power said.

"I've had a bit of soreness, but being the competitors that we all are, I wanted to play every minute of every game. So I didn't love the idea [of being the sub].

"But he did it anyway, I didn't get much of a say in it, but I'm grateful he's looking after me and wants the best for me."

Luke Power is thriving in his dual role of player and assistant coach at GWS, helping to develop his young Giant teammates.

"We (the playing coaches) are probably a lot more over it, just because we're dealing with it every day," Power said.

"We're running meetings, sitting in on important meetings that decide the way we're going to play. I guess that's the big change. We're living it a little bit more.

"We're all learning all the time. I'm learning, one - about myself. But also learning about the industry and seeing it from a different perspective."

Dr Peter Larkins says Aaron Sandilands will likely play with decreased power when he returns from his second turf toe injury.

"The complication risks are that he ends up with less power and strength with ongoing soreness from scar tissue," Larkins said.

"Even though I hear reports that he says that it's fine on the left side, it is normal that an athlete would lose a bit of power and strength if they don't have it repaired.

"If he ends up with the same result on the right side it means he won't have one good foot, which could potentially affect his playing capacity."

Brendan McCartney has revealed Port Adelaide's decision not to award him their coaching job in 2010 propelled him to become an AFL coach.

"It probably lit the fire a little," he said.

"I was happily into development, and that's where I was going to go with the Cats, almost to the point where we'd set it all up to go that way.

"If anything it probably made me more determined, because the feedback I received (from Port Adelaide) was I didn't get the job but I came across reasonably well and presented reasonably well. I thought, 'Well, let's hang in there and see what happens.'"

Lions midfielder Simon Black says former teammate Luke Power will have a point to prove when he returns to the Gabba with GWS.

"I'm sure he wanted to finish his career here, but speaking to him he's rapt where he is, he's moved on, but who knows, in the back of his mind he might have something to prove," Black said.

"He's been one of my best mates in footy. You'd like to start together and finish together, but footy's not a perfect world and it hasn't worked out that way."

Power coach Matthew Primus says Kane Cornes will play a different role in 2012 instead of being a tagger as he has been in previous years.

''We've asked Kane to go about his footy in a different manner to what he'd been one of the best at for quite some time," Primus said following Port Adelaide's round 1 win against St Kilda.

''He's a very experienced player, the most on our list by a fair way, and the leadership qualities he showed on the weekend setting up a lot of our structures it really showed some care for some of our players' great efforts."

Troy Chaplin hails Jarrad Redden's effort to claim the number one ruck spot for the Power and to perform against St Kilda in round one of 2012.

"He's come from nowhere and it's just fantastic for him and his continued development," Chaplin said.

"He was superb and against a quality ruckman…(Ben) McEvoy's been around for a while and it was brilliant to see 'Reddo' stand up."

Dean Brogan and Luke Power will return from injuries on Friday in a scratch match against the Sydney Swans reserves.

"I just want to get through and get a bit of fitness and put my hand up for next week," Brogan said.

"I'm not looking to set the world on fire tomorrow, just get through and then hit the track next week and get ready for North Melbourne."

Veteran Luke Power, plus young recruits Callan Ward and Phil Davis will lead GWS as co-captains during its debut season in the AFL.

"We think these players will provide first-class leadership and support for the club both on and off the field as we build a team that can compete for ultimate success in the years to come," GWS chairman Tony Shepherd said.

"In particular I want to congratulate Luke, Callan and Phil on becoming the inaugural captains of the GWS Giants."

Port Adelaide has suffered a double whammy with Matthew Lobbe and Cameron Hitchcock sidelined for the rest of the pre-season.

"We might have been able to manage it in January and February, but it would have been a nightmare to do it all year, so we thought the best thing would be to knock it on the head right now," Power head coach Matthew Primus said about Lobbe's hip injury.

Senior GWS recruit Luke Power is ready for former teammate Simon Black to label him a mercenary before the Brisbane Lions meet the Giants.

"Blacky can call anyone whatever he wants because he has earned the right," Power said.

"I look forward to every game I play, but it will be nice to run around on the Gabba again against some of my good mates."

At one stage a frontrunner for the services of Leon Davis, Port Adelaide now says it has cooled on the prospect of recruiting the 30-year old former Magpie.

"We've spoken with him once but the age (30) is an issue for us, obviously," Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said.

"We would love to have his talent in our team but he is going to be 30 and we've got to be very careful about holding back any of our younger ones."

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus says he has spoken to former Magpie Leon Davis about joining the Power.

"We've made contact with him to see where he's at with his footy and what he's willing to do, like the clubs in Adelaide and Perth are probably doing," Primus said.

"We'll take it from there. At the moment he's on our radar, but we're just interested to see where he's at with his footy."

Port Adelaide delists enigmatic forward Daniel Motlop.

"He (Motlop) has always been a very popular player and added a lot to our team but unfortunately in the last part of his career he hasn't physically been able to do what he's done in the past and we've got to the stage now where we have got to start looking forward," Power football manager Peter Rohde said.

"This year Daniel struggled to impact as a forward. He played his best footy when he moved further up the ground but we have younger players who are already playing a role in those positions."

Experienced forward Brett Ebert has re-signed with Port Adelaide, virtually ensuring he remains a one-club player.

"It's great to be able to sign on and stay here at the Power," Ebert said.

"I've been here nine years now and made some really good friends over the journey. I would love to be a one-club player and help us get back up to where we belong."

Three-time premiership player Luke Power is poised to join GWS in both a playing and coaching capacity.

"It is looking like I will [play with the Giants], I will head down to GWS and the role will involve a lot of coaching," Power told Triple M radio.

"It is a great transition for me and will help my development, and support the younger players."

Luke Power says the decision on his retirement was made after a discussion with Lions coach Michael Voss.

"I realised the club's priorities and my priorities weren't along the same line, but at the end of the day it was a mutual decision," Power said.

"I'm not leaving with anything but praise for Vossy and the football club. I love this club and everything to do with it. It's been like a family for me for 14 years."

Triple premiership player Luke Power announces his retirement after a round 23 loss to West Coast at the Gabba.

"In typical Power fashion, the announcement was done with little fanfare, with Power making his decision to retire public at the end of the Lions' narrow nine-points loss to West Coast Eagles at the Gabba," a press release from the club read.

Brisbane Lions veteran Luke Power has succeeded retired Crow Brett Burton as president of the AFL player's association (AFLPA).

"What's good for players is good for the game so it follows that that if we look after players, we look after football," Power said.

"More than ever before, players drive the AFLPA agenda and I'm confident this will continue and develop further under my presidency."

Last year's NAB Rising Star Daniel Rich clashes heads with teammate Daniel Merrett at training and will require 22 stitches above his eye.

"He's alright; he's a pretty resilient fella and he's pretty tough, so I think he'll probably even play tomorrow," teammate Simon Black said.

"His eye is shut over at the moment, so (in) another 24 hours, it might open up a bit."

Collingwood winger Jaxson Barham is awarded the Round Four Rising Star nomination after an impressive debut game against the Lions.

Jaxson tallied 17 kicks, 11 handballs, 9 tackles and 6 marks whilst playing opposed to key Lions midfielder Luke Power in wet conditions.

The Brisbane Lions head into the 2008 AFL season with four players sharing the captaincy role including Jonathan Brown, Luke Power, Simon Black and Nigel Lappin.

"Prior to 2007 we decided that a multiple co-captains model would be preferred to the singular captaincy system and it worked really well in practice, so this model will continue in 2008," Lions coach Leigh Matthews said.