Late bloomer Janelle Cuthbertson has been named as Port Adelaide’s new AFLW captain, taking over from retired great Erin Phillips.
Cuthbertson was a joint vice-captain last year after crossing to the Power following 24 games with Fremantle.
The 33-year-old made an immediate impact with her Power teammates and was voted by them to be their captain.
Phillips, arguably the AFLW’s most decorated player, was named Port’s inaugural women’s captain and skippered the side for two years before her retirement.
Cuthbertson has big shoes to fill, and the 2021 All-Australian is ready for the challenge.
Port Adelaide is such an esteemed club with such a rich history and it’s an honour to be able to wear the number one, Cuthbertson said in a statement.
To be voted in by your peers and your teammates, being trusted to run out there and lead the team and captain this club is something I’m not going to take for granted, and I know my family is very proud.
Coming over here just over 12 months ago, my goal was to earn my stripes and earn the respect of my teammates and show them that I was here for them, and this club has very quickly become home for me.
It’s my family – I’ve been welcomed with open arms.
Justine Mules-Robinson has been voted Cuthbertson’s vice-captain, with Ange Foley and Ash Saint rounding out the leadership group.
Mules-Robinson and Foley were both part of the leadership group in the club’s first two AFLW campaigns, while Saint has been included for the first time.
Cuthbertson was a junior tennis star, but quit the sport at the age of 21 while at college in the US after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
A year and a half later, that diagnosis was downgraded to transverse myelitis – an inflammation of the spinal cord.
Cuthbertson, who at the age of 17 lost some feeling in her left leg due to the condition, only started playing women’s football in 2019, and just five games later was selected by Fremantle ahead of the 2020 season.
In just her second season she was awarded an All-Australian jersey following a standout campaign in defence.
Cuthbertson has continued to flourish, and will be aiming to help Port bounce back from last year’s 15th-placed finish, in which they posted two wins and a draw from 10 games.
The Power only managed one win and a draw in their inaugural season.
Port Adelaide will begin their 2024 AFLW campaign with a Showdown encounter against Adelaide at Alberton Oval on August 31.
