Youngster commits to Magpies
Robbie Young is the last player to commit to the Magpies League pool before the new year.
Young, 19, is another in a long list of local Aborignal footballers to make his League debut for the Magpies - doing so in Round 7 this year and playing four games in addition to 15 games in the Reserves.
He is the tenth player to commit to the Magpies and the ninth as part of the club's league pool, joining Anthony Biemans, Danny Butcher, Ben Haren, Jake Johansen, Aseri Raikiwasa, Ben Sawford, Louis Sharrad, leadership player Henry Slattery, and Steven Summerton.
With a handful of impressive games up forward in the League last season, Young is keen to make his taste of senior football a regular thing in 2014.
"I had the privilege of taking the next step and playing a couple of League games this year," Young told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"I really enjoyed playing senior footy and the players were very supportive of me in doing that.
"I'd be happy playing reserves grade, but I'm trying to push myself to get in that League team consistently.
"With a good pre-season up until Christmas and after we come back I think I'll be able to give myself the best possible chance."
See the current Port Adelaide SANFL player list
Young is a Port Adelaide local, having grown up playing under-age football for the Rosewater Football Club, just a stone's throw from Alberton Oval, and later driving up Grand Junction Road to play in an Under-18 premiership with Tea Tree Gully.
He went to Le Fevre High School and participated in Port Adelaide's Aboriginal Power Cup program during his senior schooling years.
In that program, students are required to meet various participatory criteria including regular school attendance and curriculum performance to reach the end-of-program football carnival.
Having now finished his secondary education, Young says the Aborignal Power Cup was beneficial to him graduating from Year 12, and credited it with assisting his school performance.
"I did the Aboriginal Power Cup over five years - since 2008 - and it's great that it has gotten bigger and better over the years," said Young.
"It helped me get through and finish Year 12 and taught me the importance of education as well as sports like footy.
"It's a good program to help keep Aboriginal kids in school and improve their education as well as giving the footy experience at the end.
"I'm going to be doing a traineeship through the SANFL and will hopefully do a bit of work for the program next year."
Port Adelaide is expected to name the remaining six members of its SANFL League pool during the new year.