PORT Adelaide draftees Riley Bonner and Will Snelling will both receive their first dose of AFL football on Saturday when they line up for the Power's opening NAB Challenge game against the Sydney Swans.
The pair were teammates at West Adelaide prior to being drafted by the Power, Bonner with pick No. 37 at the NAB AFL Draft and Snelling as a rookie.
Having been exposed to the intensity of elite level training over the summer, both were excited to get a taste of competition.
Both obviously have a long road ahead of them to establish themselves as regular senior players, but Bonner said it would be a thrill to continue that journey against the Swans.
"[I'm] finally starting to fulfill my dream of actually playing a few games and starting off in the NAB [Challenge] ... so yeah, pretty stoked," Bonner said.
"I've come a long way since from where I was probably at the start of last year… [I] can't wait to represent the club."
Snelling was rookie-listed by Port after claiming South Australia's MVP at the 2015 NAB National Championships.
The 18-year-old played 15 League games for the Bloods last year including the successful Grand Final.
He said the opportunity to play in a senior competition held him in good stead for his first AFL pre-season.
"On the physical side, in the gym last year they (West Adelaide) really built us up and you get that experience of playing against bigger guys, that tackling aspect," Snelling said.
"So yeah, I'd say having that SANFL experience really has helped me so far."
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