Port Adelaide premiership captain Warren Tredrea has been appointed to the football club's board after narrowly beating Magpies legend Bruce Abernethy.
A historically high 10,405 members voted, with Tredrea getting 50.9 per cent to Abernethy's 49.1 per cent, with a difference of just 199 votes.
His election comes less than a year after he said the position of coach Ken Hinkley was "untenable" as the Power struggled at the start of last season.
"It looks, albeit in round three, it just looks untenable," Tredrea had told the Big Deal podcast.
"But you know what, he is not going to be there in 2024, I can't see it.
"If he does well, then I will be the first to say well done, but right now, it just looks untenable," he said.
However, the side recovered to play in the finals, prompting the then board to reappoint Hinkley to a new two-year deal.
Tredrea had also last year unsuccessfully tried to fill a vacancy on the board following the departure of Darren Cahill.
Fronting the media on Friday afternoon, Tredrea said he would look to build his relationship with Hinkley as he takes up the new position.
"I will have my strong thoughts about any discussion we need to have inside the football club," he said.
"Effectively, I think that's what our members have voted for.
"They want someone to ask the questions at the right time."
Tredrea replaces local businesswoman Kathy Nagle, who decided not to re-nominate after completing her three-year term.
He is also still in the middle of taking court action against his former employer Channel 9.
The former Port Adelaide captain is claiming he was unfairly dismissed by the network after he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and is seeking almost $6 million in lost wages.
Port Adelaide Club Chairman David Koch said Tredrea's experience as a champion player and while working in the media makes him a fantastic addition to the board.
"Warren grew up at Port Adelaide, played in an SANFL Premiership as a teenager before becoming one of our greatest AFL players," he said.
"His career spanned 14 seasons and 255 games, and he captained the club to our inaugural AFL Premiership in 2004.
"It will be terrific to have his knowledge and experience around the Board table," Koch concluded.