This article features content that first appeared on afl.com.au
A recent poll of afl.com.au staff writers has shone a bright light on Port Adelaide's exciting young talent, with the Power voted as having the third-best crop of under 23 talent in the competition.
Port's group of U23s, which is the fourth largest in the League, includes six Rising Star nominees and 15 players that have had an influence at AFL level in 2019.
Under-23 players: 23 players in total
Ryan Burton (61 games), Dan Houston (56 games), Sam Powell-Pepper (54 games), Riley Bonner (38 games), Connor Rozee (18 games), Zak Butters (17 games), Xavier Duursma (17 games), Todd Marshall (16 games), Kane Farrell (12 games), Aidyn Johnson (11 games), Willem Drew (nine games), Joe Atley (four games), Joel Garner (four games), Billy Frampton (three games), Peter Ladhams (two games), Tobin Cox, Martin Frederick, Riley Grundy, Sam Hayes, Cameron Hewett, Jake Patmore, Kai Pudney, Boyd Woodcock
Rising Star nominees: Six players
Ryan Burton (when playing for Hawthorn, 2017), Dan Houston (2017), Sam Powell-Pepper (2017), Riley Bonner (2018), Xavier Duursma (2019), Connor Rozee (2019)
No.1 star: Dan Houston's improvement – from a rookie-listed forward to reliable defender and now a developing midfielder – has been astounding. Getting better with every game.
Biggest upside: It takes a special player to kick five goals in just his third senior game. Connor Rozee – last year's No.5 overall pick - will only get better when he builds his tank and eventually pushes into the midfield.
Needs to show more: Todd Marshall has had some difficult off-field circumstances to deal with, but he's the athletic key forward the Power are sorely missing.
Summary: The Power have a bright future. All three first-round picks from last year's draft look like guns, while Ryan Burton, Riley Bonner, Dan Houston and Sam Powell-Pepper could all be 200-game players. – Lee Gaskin
AFL.com.au's ranking of Clubs U23 players
- Brisbane
- Carlton
- Port Adelaide
- Western Bulldogs
- Greater Western Sydney
- Sydney
- Gold Coast
- Richmond
- Geelong
- West Coast
- Essendon
- North Melbourne
- Fremantle
- St Kilda
- Hawthorn
- Melbourne
- Collingwood
- Adelaide
