Mike Sheahan and Michelangelo Rucci gave the Power little chance of having any players in the mix at the start of the season but have since been convinced four are worthy of selection.
Captain Travis Boak singled out in both lists for his outstanding debut year as captain.
Sheahan had All Australian Boak at number 17, “Born to be a captain. Outstanding season. Won a heap of the ball, banged it into the forward 50 120 times, kicked 20 goals, laid 96 tackles.”
Michelangelo Rucci had Boak at 21: “Taking on the captaincy - at a club in need of a new direction - did not hurt Boak who has no reason to regret his decision to stay at Alberton. Became a genuine gamebreaker this season.”
A sensational second season for Chad Wingard saw him make the top half of both lists.
Sheahan listing the agile forward at 20:”Deservedly All-Australian at 20 years of age. Played all 24 games, averaging better than 20 possessions. Kicked 43 goals, had 33 score-assists. Stardom beckons.”
Rucci had Wingard just three spots lower at 23: “An All-Australian in just his second AFL season tells the story of one of the Power's game-winning small forwards. And there is more to come.”
The third player to make both Sheahan and Rucci’s list was Brad Ebert, who has taken his game to a new level since moving back home to Port Adelaide, from the West Coast Eagles.
Both Sheahan and Rucci had Ebert at 49.
Sheahan wrote: “One of the keys to Port Adelaide's improvement. Had heaps of the ball with a high efficiency rating (68.5 per cent). Played every game and led the tackle count at his club.”
Rucci also commented on Ebert’s skills: “Improved his kicking and had a greater influence on games, either as a midfielder or at half-back thriving to a new gameplan at Alberton.”
But Rucci also had a fourth Port Player in his list, utility Justin Westhoff.
Rucci said: “Clearly his best season. The "Hoff'' has found his perfect role under new coach Ken Hinkley as a free-roaming "swingman'' working to the play on each side of the centre square.”
Not surprisingly both scribes had Gary Ablett as the number one player in the AFL, while Joel Selwood and Scott Pendlebury rounded out their top three.
Port’s young guns will no doubt now be pushing in 2014 for a top ten spot.
