PORT ADELAIDE Assistant Coach Nathan Bassett has praised the belief and drive of mid-season rookie Cam Sutcliffe, who is set to make his club debut in tomorrow’s important clash against Brisbane.
Sutcliffe played 104 games with Fremantle before being delisted at the end of last season.
He signed on to play as Port Adelaide’s leadership player in the SANFL before being claimed by the Power in the mid-season draft.
The 27-year-old will become the first Power player to wear the number 50 in the AFL when he runs out against the Lions at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, and Bassett said Sutcliffe’s versatility would be important in the big game.
“Cam can play a lot of roles for us,” Bassett said during a press conference after Port Adelaide’s captain’s run at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
“He’s played forward, he’s played back and he has won football in the SANFL so he certainly adds to our depth in the midfield.
“There hasn’t been a lot of the midseason draft guys playing; I think (John) Noble did last night for Collingwood but there hasn’t been a great impact from the mid-season draft guys so it’s great for Cam to get his opportunity.
“I’m reasonably sure he thought his AFL career was done but he’s played well for us, he’s been a leader in the SANFL, he’s been a good person around the footy club and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does.”
Ruckman Scott Lycett proved he’d overcome a minor knee complaint and Travis Boak showed he was no longer troubled by the back spasms which kept him out of last week’s Showdown during the light training session on Saturday morning.
The Power endured torrential rain and at times hail during the session, which might serve the side well given the forecast for some wet weather on Sunday afternoon around the game time.
Bassett said his side had discussed playing wet weather football, explaining that it didn’t cope well in the wet a fortnight ago against the Western Bulldogs.
“It’s felt like (the weather) has followed us around the country this year,” Bassett said.
“Last time we struggled against the Bulldogs in scoring as much as anything.
“We know we have to minimise the mistakes, take the ball cleanly, get the ball in your front half as much as you can and then hopefully you can get it forward with some space, pick it up cleanly and kick a goal.”
Sutcliffe and Boak replace Sam Powell-Pepper and Xavier Duursma in the selected side and Bassett said both were unlucky to miss out.
He explained the omissions were about team balance, with the coaches choosing the side they believed could beat the Lions, although it would also provide an opportunity to rest Duursma – who has played every game in his debut season.
Bassett also gave a brief update on ruckman Paddy Ryder, who wouldn’t play at all this weekend due to illness but he said he expected the big man to be back next week.
