Port Adelaide’s re-signing of Miles Bergman was no coincidence; it was the result of a carefully orchestrated off-field strategy involving two of the club’s most respected names.
The 23-year-old, fresh off a career-best showing against Carlton in Round 16, rejected interest from several Victorian clubs to remain at Alberton until at least 2027.
In the week of that match, Bergman dined with club legends Travis Boak and Robbie Gray, both Victorians who spent their entire careers at Port.
Their message was clear: stay the course, and you’ll be part of something lasting.
Boak, Gray and a future pitch
Boak, who famously fielded an approach from Geelong in 2012 before choosing loyalty, and Gray, now part of Port’s recruiting team, offered Bergman a glimpse of life as a one-club man.
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“You’ve seen in the past, so many Victorians that have decided to stay,” Bergman told In and Under after inking his deal. “It shows how strong our club is, with ‘Boaky’, Robbie, Ollie — all those boys. Hopefully, me signing on shows dedication and can do the same for other boys.”
Bergman, his fiancée Meecah and his manager also sat down with incoming coach Josh Carr, football boss Chris Davies and list manager Jason Cripps the following morning.
The pitch, described as a free agency-style presentation, covered more than just football, a growing AFL trend that recognises the importance of family and lifestyle in contract decisions.
He didn’t meet with rival clubs, despite heavy interest from St Kilda, the Bulldogs, Essendon, Carlton and Sydney. It’s believed that he turned down bigger offers to stay put.