PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Levi Proude has been named the SANFL Round 1 Powerade Breakthrough Player after impressing on debut.

To be eligible to win the award, nominees must be aged 21 or under and have played no more than eight SANFL games at the start of the year.

Players will be rendered ineligible for the award if they are suspended by the SANFL tribunal.

Proude had 28 disposals, six marks, six tackles and seven clearances in the 95-point win over Adelaide on Saturday.

He even managed his first league goal in the third quarter after getting on the end of a chain of hand passes.

Proude is from Port Lincoln but has been with Port Adelaide for five years, finally earning a senior contract in 2017.

The 22-year-old – who won the club’s Reserves best and fairest in 2016 and was runner-up in the Reserves Magarey Medal - was among three Magpies-contracted debutants to play against the Crows.

Jack Strange and Jack Kluske were also handed their first league games by coach Matthew Lokan and he was pleased with their contribution.

Proude beat Central Districts’ Jackson Hateley and Jack Firns from Woodville-West Torrens to be named the Round 1 Breakthrough Player.

Eagles defender Joseph Sinor won the award last year, earning himself a $2000 cash prize, a trophy and the opportunity to train with Port Adelaide’s AFL side for a week.

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