Name: Benny Barrett
Date of Birth: 1 May 2006
Height: 176cm
Position: Small forward
State: South Australia
State League Club: South Adelaide
Community Club: Happy Valley
Port Adelaide has added small forward Benny Barrett to its list as a category B rookie.
Barrett, a member of Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy thanks to his Papua New Guinea heritage, is a livewire forward who boasts blistering pace and creativity in the forward 50.
His agility, electric speed and crafty ground level work make him a dangerous threat around goals and he can often be seen bursting out of packs and weaving his way through opponents.
The left-footer has spent time training with Port Adelaide’s AFL side through his time with the club’s NGA and will be familiar with his new teammates and surrounds.
When not at Alberton, the Happy Valley product split his time between South Adelaide’s under 18s and reserves sides, averaging 17 touches and kicking seven goals for the Panthers.
He also played two games for South Australia during the year, featuring among the best players in both games.
Port Adelaide National Recruiting Manager Geoff Parker says:
Benny has worked hard throughout his time in our NGA program and his selection as a category B rookie is well deserved. This season he has shown an ability to consistently impact the scoreboard when forward with his speed, agility and ground level skills.
AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan says:
Small midfielder/forward who made an immediate impact when he played in the final two matches for South Australia at the National Championships. His pace, ball winning ability and footy smarts saw him feature among his team’s best players against Western Australia and Victoria Metro. Split his season between playing under 18s and reserves football at South Adelaide, averaging 17 disposals in 17 matches and kicking seven goals. His parents hail from Papua New Guinea and he is eligible to Port Adelaide as a Next Generation Academy selection. Was ultra impressive in the 20m sprint at the state Draft Combine in Adelaide, recording a blistering 2.91 seconds.
