And on the eve of his 150th game, the versatile big man hopes there’s more to come.
At 199cm, Westhoff has one of the best endurance profiles for a player of his height and therefore makes for a tough matchup for any opponent.
That’s because he’s played not just as a traditional half-forward - he also pinch-hits as a ruckman, defender and occasional wingman.
In reality, he rolls all of those jobs into one as the Power's number one 'swingman' - a 'Mr. Fixit' who plays all over the ground as a tall utility.
It’s not a new role for Westhoff – he’s been doing it for the best part of three to four years - but it’s only been in recent times that the rest of the football world has become aware of Westhoff’s unique ability as a tall, hard running utility.
Westhoff has gone from strength to strength since his great start to the 2013 season.
He was the only Power player to receive a perfect score from the club’s coaches for a performance last year – against the Giants in Round 2 – and he arguably saved his side from defeat at the hands of St Kilda in Round 17 later that year.
While many clubs would love the opportunity to snare the services of one of the competition’s most versatile players, the chances of the Eudunda-born, Tanunda-raised big man leaving South Australia are slim.
It’s the culture of the club, and his family ties in Adelaide, which are helping him produce consistent form at Alberton.
“Family has obviously played a big part in my life, the current players have been well documented as having stuck around – guys like Boaky, our captain – and obviously getting Ken across [as coach] has kept us in pretty good stead,” Westhoff says.
It hasn’t been an easy path for Westhoff and his teammates to tread, after several lean years saw the Power miss six consecutive finals campaigns before the arrival of Hinkley in 2013.
But it’s been the fuel for a fire which burns between them – a fire that, for Westhoff, has helped him excel in his role for the past 18 months.
He hopes, on the eve of his 150th AFL game, the next 50 en route to a potential double ton are among his best.
“Looking back a few years ago, it was probably pretty grim at the club - tough to play your best footy - but I think the amount of hard work the group has put in over the last three-four years also helped us keep players,” Westhoff says.
“I’ve always been a pretty positive guy, have tried to see the light where others haven’t [and] I’ve tried to put the hard work.
“The last year-and-a-half has probably been the best footy I’ve played and the most I’ve enjoyed playing the game.
“I think the more times you’re down, the better times always feel that little bit better.
“Hopefully my next 50 is even better than my last.”
Debuting to much hype after booting three goals against Hawthorn in 2007, followed by three more multiple-major hauls, ‘the Hoff’ became a cult figure in the black, white and teal.
He played every game of that year after that first game in Round 10, including the 2007 grand final defeat.
Seven seasons later, Westhoff has grown from a clean shaven, fresh-faced youngster, to a bearded warrior who is one of several unofficial leaders imparting their experienced guidance to an emerging brigade of young talents.
It’s a dual role that see him not only play as a utility, but also command and teach out on the field, along with fellow senior players like Kane Cornes, Dom Cassisi, Alipate Carlile and Jay Schulz.
“I’m happy playing my role and, hopefully, helping out the team,” Westhoff says.
“I always felt we had some good players, a good list, and probably just took a bit longer [to develop] than we thought - the guys always had that passion to win games of footy, but it just wasn’t happening.
“But if you work hard, good things come eventually.”
Things haven’t been great for the Power after losing three of its past four matches.
While one of those was at the hands of the top-ranked Sydney Swans, two have come against bottom 10 sides Adelaide and Essendon.
Against Richmond at Etihad Stadium, Westhoff knows plenty of hard work will be required on the fastest surface in the land.
“I think we’re a much better team than what we were last year, obviously in the past month we haven’t performed the way we wanted, but we just need to win,” he says.
“Good teams find a way to win, hopefully we’re going down that track.
“We just need to execute what we need to do at the right time, I thought on the weekend [against Essendon] we probably strayed from that a little.
“There’s no doubt we’re playing good patches of footy, it’s just about find that extra five per cent to finish it off.”
It’s not a new role for Westhoff – he’s been doing it for the best part of three to four years - but it’s only been in recent times that the rest of the football world has become aware of Westhoff’s unique ability as a tall, hard running utility.
Westhoff has gone from strength to strength since his great start to the 2013 season.
He was the only Power player to receive a perfect score from the club’s coaches for a performance last year – against the Giants in Round 2 – and he arguably saved his side from defeat at the hands of St Kilda in Round 17 later that year.
While many clubs would love the opportunity to snare the services of one of the competition’s most versatile players, the chances of the Eudunda-born, Tanunda-raised big man leaving South Australia are slim.
It’s the culture of the club, and his family ties in Adelaide, which are helping him produce consistent form at Alberton.
“Family has obviously played a big part in my life, the current players have been well documented as having stuck around – guys like Boaky, our captain – and obviously getting Ken across [as coach] has kept us in pretty good stead,” Westhoff says.
It hasn’t been an easy path for Westhoff and his teammates to tread, after several lean years saw the Power miss six consecutive finals campaigns before the arrival of Hinkley in 2013.
But it’s been the fuel for a fire which burns between them – a fire that, for Westhoff, has helped him excel in his role for the past 18 months.
He hopes, on the eve of his 150th AFL game, the next 50 en route to a potential double ton are among his best.
“Looking back a few years ago, it was probably pretty grim at the club - tough to play your best footy - but I think the amount of hard work the group has put in over the last three-four years also helped us keep players,” Westhoff says.
“I’ve always been a pretty positive guy, have tried to see the light where others haven’t [and] I’ve tried to put the hard work.
“The last year-and-a-half has probably been the best footy I’ve played and the most I’ve enjoyed playing the game.
“I think the more times you’re down, the better times always feel that little bit better.
“Hopefully my next 50 is even better than my last.”
Debuting to much hype after booting three goals against Hawthorn in 2007, followed by three more multiple-major hauls, ‘the Hoff’ became a cult figure in the black, white and teal.
He played every game of that year after that first game in Round 10, including the 2007 grand final defeat.
Seven seasons later, Westhoff has grown from a clean shaven, fresh-faced youngster, to a bearded warrior who is one of several unofficial leaders imparting their experienced guidance to an emerging brigade of young talents.
It’s a dual role that see him not only play as a utility, but also command and teach out on the field, along with fellow senior players like Kane Cornes, Dom Cassisi, Alipate Carlile and Jay Schulz.
“I’m happy playing my role and, hopefully, helping out the team,” Westhoff says.
“I always felt we had some good players, a good list, and probably just took a bit longer [to develop] than we thought - the guys always had that passion to win games of footy, but it just wasn’t happening.
“But if you work hard, good things come eventually.”
Things haven’t been great for the Power after losing three of its past four matches.
While one of those was at the hands of the top-ranked Sydney Swans, two have come against bottom 10 sides Adelaide and Essendon.
Against Richmond at Etihad Stadium, Westhoff knows plenty of hard work will be required on the fastest surface in the land.
“I think we’re a much better team than what we were last year, obviously in the past month we haven’t performed the way we wanted, but we just need to win,” he says.
“Good teams find a way to win, hopefully we’re going down that track.
“We just need to execute what we need to do at the right time, I thought on the weekend [against Essendon] we probably strayed from that a little.
“There’s no doubt we’re playing good patches of footy, it’s just about find that extra five per cent to finish it off.”
His teammates will recapture that extra five per cent to give the Hoff the acknowledgement he deserves on Sunday afternoon.
