Brendon Lade
Games: 22
Lade played every game in his final AFL season. The dual All-Australian and premiership player didn’t have a big impact on the stats sheet compared to previous years, but some of his tap work – particularly when reunited with partner in crime Shaun Burgoyne – was textbook. Lade’s retirement has opened the door for one of the club’s young ruckman to stand up and start his own legacy at the Port Adelaide Football Club.
Matthew Lobbe
Games: 0
Lobbe is one of the players with Lade’s vacant spot firmly in his sights. The athletic big man made his SANFL debut with Port Adelaide in April, but his development appeared to stagnate when he was sent back to the twos. Lobbe made the switch to West Adelaide during the mid-season break, and was rewarded with 12 games and a lead ruck role. He was named an emergency for the Power’s final game of the season, and will be in the mix for round one if he continues his good form.
Tom Logan
Games: 15
Logan, who enjoyed a career-best 2008, was squeezed out of the side in round one but fought his way back to play a starring role in the win over Hawthorn in round four. The uncompromising onballer had a day out with two goals and a Mark of the Year contender opposed to Hawthorn star Luke Hodge, and went onto play the next 11 games. Logan found himself in and out of the team in the last seven weeks, and will be looking to cement his spot with an injury-free pre-season.
Nick Lower
Games: 5
Lower dominated for Norwood in the SANFL, but struggled to establish himself as a regular in the Port Adelaide line-up. The affable half-back put together back-to-back games just once in 2009 and played total of five AFL games. Lower appears a class above the local competition, but will be out to take the next step after four years at Alberton.
Daniel Motlop
Games: 11
Motlop carried his career-best form of last season into the opening rounds of 2009. The mercurial forward kicked 11 goals in the first three rounds and was also used as a dangerous link-up player outside the Power’s attacking 50. Motlop managed just nine games before a series of ankle problems brought a premature end to his season. The dynamic 27-year-old is one of the most important players at Alberton, and the club needs him up and running to be successful in 2010.
Marlon Motlop
Games: 3
Motlop, like his older cousin, had his season derailed by injury. The dashing half-back played three games for the Power in the middle of the year before suffering a bout of osteitis pubis. Motlop was placed in cotton wool a month out from the end of the season, but should be fit for the start of pre-season training.
Danyle Pearce
Games: 22
Pearce averaged 26 touches and a goal in the first four games of the season, but became a marked man in the Power line-up when Shaun Burgoyne succumbed to injury. The electrifying wingman finished fourth in the league for inside 50s, and devastated opposition teams with his run and carry when left unchecked. The 23-year-old is still learning to deal with a heavy tag, but will be an important player at the stoppages next year in the absence of one, or even, both Burgoyne brothers.
Michael Pettigrew
Games: 14
The versatile defender played 14 of the opening 15 games before being struck down with hamstring tendonitis. Pettigrew played a handful of games with SANFL club West Adelaide, but was severely restricted by injury. The Western Australian will need a big pre-season to edge ahead of Paul Stewart as the club’s favoured mid-sized defender.
Jarrad Redden
Games: 0
Redden, or ‘Big Red’ as he’s affectionately known, broke into the Woodville-West Torrens league side to play four games in his first year on the Port Adelaide list. He missed a month with an ankle injury, but showed promise both in the ruck and as a marking forward. Redden is considered a project player at Alberton, but has the talent to press for regular SANFL selection next year.
David Rodan
Games: 19
Rodan’s roller coaster season started sluggishly when he was sent back to the SANFL for the first time since joining the Power in 2009. The dashing onballer was offered a reprieve when Shaun Burgoyne fell out of the team to take on Hawthorn in round four and he made the most of his opportunity finishing with 27 possessions and a goal. He enjoyed a purple patch of good form in the middle of the season, but was left out of the side for the round 22 clash with North Melbourne. Rodan signed a new three-year-deal during the year and will have a point to prove over the pre-season.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
