EMERGING Port Adelaide midfielder Karl Amon partly credits vice–captain Brad Ebert for his smooth entry to football at the elite level.

Amon started his first AFL game last weekend against Melbourne, after playing the previous two as the Power's substitute.

His 12 possessions doubled what he'd accumulated the week before and was also better than the nine he'd managed in his round-seven debut. 

The AFL world is beginning to see the speed and skill for which he's renowned and it's also clear Ebert's work ethic has rubbed off on the 19-year-old.

The pair has partnered up at Alberton, with Ebert taking the young left-footer under his wing.

Amon was constantly singled out for his work rate and subsequent improvement over the summer – praise that stemmed from a hugely impressive pre-season camp in Dubai.

Amon told AFL.com.au Ebert was the perfect role model.

"Brad Ebert's been my mentor at the club, which has been a massive help – he's an elite runner which is exactly what I want to be," Amon said.

"You're made aware of the professionalism required in the AFL system pretty early on, but it's obviously pretty handy to have someone like 'Ebo' guide you a little bit.

"His work at training has been something I've really tried to replicate."

With ancestry that can be traced to north Stradbroke Island in Queensland, Amon's debut AFL win was made even more special because it occurred during last weekend's Indigenous Round.

The left-footer said Port Adelaide had helped him understand his connection to indigenous culture.

"Winning that first game was just an amazing experience – I mean it's what you play footy for, to feel that happiness when you win," he said. 

"And for it to happen on Indigenous Round just made it better … I was really proud obviously, but the whole team was proud to play and win on that occasion.

"All the boys, not only the indigenous guys, were proud – every one of us wore hand-painted boots … it meant a lot."

On Thursday Amon acted as a mentor for some younger indigenous players, as Port launched its eighth Aboriginal Power Cup.

Almost 400 students from 132 schools will compete and this year each participating Aboriginal student will buddy up with a non-Aboriginal student to teach them about their culture and heritage.

The cup will culminate with the grand final on Saturday night, to be played as a curtain-raiser to the Power's clash against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval.

Once the curtains are raised Amon will be out to build on his promising AFL entrance, having been selected for a fourth-straight senior game.