IT is the smile - and the energy it embodies - that stands out beyond his football for Logan Evans. That beaming spirit from that infectious smile also tells a story. A good story.

The teenager is in the big time, playing AFL when that dream seemed shattered last year while life had tested all of Evans' emotions to extremes. His grandfather - a recruiting scout for Essendon - died. A much-loved team-mate, SANFL premiership hero Nick Lowden, died. Norwood's premiership defence in the SANFL stumbled and crumbled; and with all this on his shoulders, Evans became - understandably - lost while AFL recruiting and list managers made their calls.

Less than a year later, Evans has found his way back to his dream. There are seven consecutive AFL games to his name after his national league debut against Brisbane at Adelaide Oval where the half-back shone amid the ashes so many raked over while Port Adelaide stumbled to a 79-point loss.

Clearly Evans belongs in the AFL.

His successful start at Port Adelaide might just refocus the debate on how rookie lists - that have been transformed to offer mature-age players, hardly "rookies", a farewell season or two. The thought on how academies should be set-up at all 18 AFL clubs might find new purpose. The need to offer a development path for those not called during a national draft each November is more and more pressing ... and more relevant by noting how Evans' presence makes for a better game and stronger league. Yet, he was almost left behind.

Port Adelaide saw the possibilities in calling Evans to Alberton during the pre-season. That faith is being rewarded. It might also spark a rethink on how to keep the AFL door open to those who are not called during the national and pre-season rookie drafts.

For all that he endured last year, Evans never stopped believing - and it is obvious how much he lives off that confidence when he takes to the field in a Port Adelaide jumper.

"I would have been hopeful ...," says Evans of how he felt of his AFL prospects this year after Port Adelaide recruiting chief Geoff Parker offered the chance to follow his dream as a train-on option as part of the SANFL Rookie Program at Alberton during the summer.

"I put my head down and got to work ... (to turn hope into reality).

"It has been a big part to me finally getting here. But I would not have believed I would be part of a team beating the league leaders by 100 points plus," adds Evans of the weekend's extraordinary result against Sydney at Adelaide Oval.

Port Adelaide claimed Evans, after strong SANFL performances, in the AFL mid-season draft with call No. 12 on May 29. There is a difference, however, between dreaming and living the dream as an AFL player, even after your name is finally called at a draft.

"Yes, kind of ... (but) I always had my belief (to make an AFL list)," says Evans. "Being here (now), playing that game (against Sydney) is surreal. Unreal."

No-one needs to tell Evans how destiny puts everyone on paths beyond anyone's control, no matter how hard they strive and work to a dream, a goal. Last year - with those life-testing moments for Evans - would have broken many in spirit. But Evans keeps working with a mature perspective, on life and football.

"I take it game by game, day by day," says Evans with the response being far from a cliche. "(Senior coach) Ken (Hinkley) and I have some really, really good talks. He tells me what I need to work on. (Last week), it was a big focus on my defensive stuff. And (against Sydney) I got the best out of my defensive work. I know that.

"That is my benchmark now. It tells me I can be a good defender ... and when it is my turn to attack, I can do that too. I am working on my defence, taking it day by day and that is keeping me grounded.

"I have had to work at (my defensive game). I want to be a team player. I want to do the team things. That is how I want to play most games. Work to the team structure, back that in and I trust myself because I have done the work in the pre-season and in training to get the best out of myself. So yes, go at it and be as hard as I can around the ball."

Evans, 18, also is playing catch-up on his draft class graduates who were called in November.

"I am just asking questions and taking it all in - from Dan Houston, Kane Farrell those boys are really good to me," Evans said. "When I ask, they always have an answer for me. I am probably a bit of a pest to them. I keep chewing their ears off and they have answers for me every single time.

"Listen," says Evans of the lesson he has taken from his apprenticeship at Alberton. "Be a sponge. Take everything in, no matter if it is good or bad. I just want to get better. So I take it all in.

"I keep working to be the best player I can be."

Evans stands out - beyond that smile - for slipping into holes in the defensive-50 arc, creating opportunities where many others would not be so ambitious before reaching an AFL milestone. It is true to all Hinkley asks of footballers to be brave and daring.

"Just to be proactive; trust your instinct," says Evans. "Your instinct is not normally wrong. Play what is there. Play what I see in front of me. Don't be too fancy. Do the team things right. 

"Reading the ball comes naturally to me. And I back in the process. At training I work on those things - I work on intercepting the ball. I work on standing my man. I put myself in those positions by having the coaches help me, by having my team-mates telling me when to go. But a bit of that is natural to me as well."

The call to Alberton is the summer was critical - and telling for any review of rookie lists and academy groups at AFL clubs.

"It has been huge," says Evans of his time at Alberton before the mid-season draft. "That extra six months has let me slot in really well with all the boys. It has been a big six months for me - and it has been great."

Timing is everything. It was not great for Evans in his draft year. It has been ideal for Evans as his start is timed with Port Adelaide answering the challenge to deliver consistent performances.

"I would not say we have come good all of a sudden," says Evans. "We knew what we had. We had that ability to stay connected for four quarters. Our celebrating every little thing has been a big factor to us playing the most connected footy we have.

"We keep winning, we will put ourselves in a pretty good position."

And what of that "young fella's award" as Hinkley calls the Rising Star trophy?

"It is not what I am playing for...," says Evans.