PORT ADELAIDE will have a SANFL debutant against Woodville-West Torrens this week in the form of father-son prospect Harper Montgomery.
Montgomery is the son of 2004 Premiership player and current AFL midfield coach Brett Montgomery, and has been averaging 20 disposals and six marks playing off half back for North Adelaide’s under 18 side this season.
The 18-year-old has been given permission to play for Port Adelaide under an AFL ruling granting clubs access to their Next Generation Academy and father-son players during their draft year.
Montgomery will have a chance to play two league games before he has to return to Prospect Oval for the remainder of the season.
“Harper is well known to us having done some pre-season training with the AFL side and coming in regularly to see NGA coach Justin Westhoff to work through vision, but it will be good for his development to have him at the club for a couple of weeks,” Port Adelaide SANFL and Next Generation Academy Manager Shane Grimm explained.
“Given Harper is in his draft year, it also helps our recruiters and list managers have a closer look at him against bigger bodies.
“We’re grateful to the AFL and SANFL, as well as to North Adelaide for granting permission for him to play with us over the next fortnight.”
Port Adelaide has first right to Harper Montgomery under the AFL’s father-son rules after his father finished with AFL 126 games for the club between his two stints with the Western Bulldogs.
Port Adelaide’s SANFL game against the Eagles gets underway at Woodville Oval at 2:10pm on Saturday.
The rest of the Magpies team will be named this evening.
