TOM SCULLY left Loxton with the Russell Ebert Medal as the best on ground in the SANFL win over West Adelaide, but the teenager has also returned to Adelaide with some work to do.
The 18-year-old was a constant threat in attack at Loxton Oval, booting 4.4 from nine disposals and clunking five strong marks as Port Adelaide won by 17 points.
The win seemed a formality as Port kept the Bloods to one goal in the first half and raced to a 46-point lead.
But injuries to ruckman Scott Lycett and defender Jake Pasini meant the Magpies were down to two on the bench, and they were forced to grind out the result under immense pressure from West.
For Scully, it was his first win since being drafted to Port Adelaide late last year and came against the club he was drafted from.
“I did a pre-season with a lot of those guys so it was nice to get the rub on them,” he smiled after the game.
“To be down two men, especially in the last quarter, we fought it out and I thought we did really well.
“It made the win grittier. It was important for the boys to show some fight, to dig in after a pretty good first half.
“As a team we had to stick together and everyone tried their guts out.”
In just his fourth league game, Scully stood tall in a forward line robbed by injury of Mitch Georgiades and the AFL selection of Ollie Lord.
He presented well, competed in the air and at ground level – evidenced by his snapped third goal in the second quarter – but missed some shots that might have made his game complete.
“I’ve got something to work on with my kicking going back to the club this week but it was a really good win in big occasion – the Russell Ebert tribute match – for the boys,” Scully said.
“Tyson Goldsack spoke to us before the game about the way Russell played and his contribution to our club and the game, and what it meant to play in the game (in his honour).
“So, I’m really happy that I was able to play my role for the team and contribute to an important win.”
Scully and Port Adelaide will host their first game of the season at Alberton Oval on Saturday afternoon against Norwood from 2:30pm.
