THE LOCKERS have been emptied, the footballs put away and, now, all that’s left to do before the focus switches to ’09 is reflect on the season that was.
This year 37 players, including six debutants, pulled on the Port Adelaide guernsey and today portadelaidefc.com.au continues its review of the individual performances at the Power in 2008.
Mitch Farmer
Games: three
Farmer made a seamless transition from U18s to SANFL footy in his first year at Alberton and was rewarded with his debut in round 18. The feisty half-back picked up 14 touches and five marks in just his second AFL game and suggested he has a very bright future with his uncompromising style of play.
Farmer made a seamless transition from U18s to SANFL footy in his first year at Alberton and was rewarded with his debut in round 18. The feisty half-back picked up 14 touches and five marks in just his second AFL game and suggested he has a very bright future with his uncompromising style of play.
Robbie Gray
Games: 10
The brilliant forward doubled his career games tally in 2008, but, unfortunately, continued to be plagued by injury. Gray, who ranked fifth at the club for inside 50s, dazzled fans with 20 possessions, 12 marks and two goals against Hawthorn in round eight and also ended the season on a high with three goals in round 22.
The brilliant forward doubled his career games tally in 2008, but, unfortunately, continued to be plagued by injury. Gray, who ranked fifth at the club for inside 50s, dazzled fans with 20 possessions, 12 marks and two goals against Hawthorn in round eight and also ended the season on a high with three goals in round 22.
Nathan Krakouer
Games: three
Krakouer was unable to replicate his impressive debut with a calf injury restricting him to just three games this year. The quick 20-year-old averaged 13 possessions, but has talent to burn and the Power will be keen to keep hold of him next season.
Krakouer was unable to replicate his impressive debut with a calf injury restricting him to just three games this year. The quick 20-year-old averaged 13 possessions, but has talent to burn and the Power will be keen to keep hold of him next season.
Brendon Lade
Games: 17
The dual All-Australian spent five weeks in the SANFL midway through the season while the club tested young ruckman Fabian Deluca. Lade was reintroduced in round 20, gathering 22 possessions and 35 hit-outs in the loss to Collingwood.
The dual All-Australian spent five weeks in the SANFL midway through the season while the club tested young ruckman Fabian Deluca. Lade was reintroduced in round 20, gathering 22 possessions and 35 hit-outs in the loss to Collingwood.
Tom Logan
Games: 19
Logan had never played more than nine games in a single season before 2008, but appeared to find his niche across half-back this year. Logan ranked third at the club in marks, averaged 18 possessions per game and also fulfilled shutdown roles on dangerous opposition midfielders and half-forwards.
Logan had never played more than nine games in a single season before 2008, but appeared to find his niche across half-back this year. Logan ranked third at the club in marks, averaged 18 possessions per game and also fulfilled shutdown roles on dangerous opposition midfielders and half-forwards.
Nathan Lonie
Games: six
Lonie waited patiently in the SANFL before finally receiving an AFL call-up in round 14. The raking left-footer, who notched up his long-awaited 100-game milestone, played six of the last nine games with the Power, including a superb 22-possession and two goal performance against North Melbourne in round 15.
Lonie waited patiently in the SANFL before finally receiving an AFL call-up in round 14. The raking left-footer, who notched up his long-awaited 100-game milestone, played six of the last nine games with the Power, including a superb 22-possession and two goal performance against North Melbourne in round 15.
Nick Lower
Games: 11
Lower almost tripled his career games tally this season after cementing his place in the young Port Adelaide back line. The hard-nosed defender averaged 13 possessions a game in 2008 and added a bit of grunt to the Power’s mix.
Lower almost tripled his career games tally this season after cementing his place in the young Port Adelaide back line. The hard-nosed defender averaged 13 possessions a game in 2008 and added a bit of grunt to the Power’s mix.
Daniel Motlop
Games: 21
Motlop, who kicked a career-high 57 majors, was a multiple goalkicker for the Power on 16 occasions this season with his best return of seven coming against Essendon in round eight. The unpredictable star, who finished third in the John Cahill Medal, also received a nomination for the AFL Army award on the back of some strong defensive efforts inside the forward 50.
Motlop, who kicked a career-high 57 majors, was a multiple goalkicker for the Power on 16 occasions this season with his best return of seven coming against Essendon in round eight. The unpredictable star, who finished third in the John Cahill Medal, also received a nomination for the AFL Army award on the back of some strong defensive efforts inside the forward 50.
Marlon Motlop
Games: two
Daniel’s younger cousin was plucked from North Adelaide reserves to make his AFL debut against Melbourne at AAMI Stadium in round 21. Motlop missed an opportunity to kick a goal with his first kick in AFL, but more than made amends with 16 possessions and a gem from the MCG boundary line the following week.
Daniel’s younger cousin was plucked from North Adelaide reserves to make his AFL debut against Melbourne at AAMI Stadium in round 21. Motlop missed an opportunity to kick a goal with his first kick in AFL, but more than made amends with 16 possessions and a gem from the MCG boundary line the following week.
Danyle Pearce
Games: 21
Pearce was sent back to Sturt for a solitary game early in the season, but worked his way back into form and was rewarded with the Showdown Medal for best on ground in round 16. The dashing midfielder, who ranked fourth at the club in tackles, managed 28 possessions and a goal in his final game and will look to build on that.
Pearce was sent back to Sturt for a solitary game early in the season, but worked his way back into form and was rewarded with the Showdown Medal for best on ground in round 16. The dashing midfielder, who ranked fourth at the club in tackles, managed 28 possessions and a goal in his final game and will look to build on that.
Michael Pettigrew
Games: 20
Pettigrew demonstrated his ability to play on both talls and smalls in 2008 and also offered plenty of drive from defence, ranking second at the club in rebound 50s. Pettigrew picked up a season-high 20 touches against St Kilda in round 18.
Pettigrew demonstrated his ability to play on both talls and smalls in 2008 and also offered plenty of drive from defence, ranking second at the club in rebound 50s. Pettigrew picked up a season-high 20 touches against St Kilda in round 18.
David Rodan
Games: 22
Rodan proved that last year was anything but a fluke with another super consistent season. The pint-sized Fijian continued to wrong foot his opponents and finished the year with 25 more running bounces (114) than any other player in the competition. Rodan put on a blistering 20-possession first half in round four and capped off the season with five goals against North Melbourne.
Rodan proved that last year was anything but a fluke with another super consistent season. The pint-sized Fijian continued to wrong foot his opponents and finished the year with 25 more running bounces (114) than any other player in the competition. Rodan put on a blistering 20-possession first half in round four and capped off the season with five goals against North Melbourne.
Steven Salopek
Games: 15
Salopek, arguably, would’ve taken out Port Adelaide’s best and fairest award for 2008, if not for a season-ending achilles injury. The courageous ball winner starred with 33 possessions in both rounds seven and 16 and only needs an injury-free 12 months to realise his potential as an elite midfielder in the competition.
Salopek, arguably, would’ve taken out Port Adelaide’s best and fairest award for 2008, if not for a season-ending achilles injury. The courageous ball winner starred with 33 possessions in both rounds seven and 16 and only needs an injury-free 12 months to realise his potential as an elite midfielder in the competition.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
