Port Adelaide National Recruiting Manager Geoff Parker reviewed the performances of those players and named Aaron Young Player of the Week for his best on ground performance in a North Adelaide side soundly beaten by the Eagles whilst Steven Salopek put in another good performance in Port Adelaide’s SANFL side.
Aaron Young (for Roosters v Eagles)
25 disposals, 4 marks, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
North got pretty convincingly beaten but Youngy was their best player with 25 touches and 5 clearances. He was very clean and creative with his hands and did a lot of tough stuff inside which he often does. His intensity around the ball was really good, he used it well and although he didn’t kick any goals but most of the time he played in the midfield. After a performance as solid as that I’d reckon he’d be pushing for a recall to the senior side.
League
Steven Salopek (for Port Adelaide v Tigers)
22 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Sal was one of the Magpies’ best players with his class and ability to use the ball well standing out. Most of his disposals were kicks and he put his head over the ball to win possession. He looked a level above everyone else on the ground when he got the football and it was really just a continuation of his good form from the past couple of weeks.
Reserves
Mitch Banner (for Port Adelaide v Tigers)
35 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles, 13 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Mitch was best on ground for the Magpies and played through the midfield with 35 touches and 13 clearances. Once again he was particularly good offensively but could still work harder defensively. He needed to work on his stoppage spreading in the first half and rectified that in the second. His kicking efficiency would have been very good and he had a really big influence on the game and used the ball well.
Jarrad Irons (for Eagles v Roosters)
17 disposals, 2 marks, 3 rebound 50s
Had a solid game, his first half was pretty good but then the Eagles started to dominate and so the ball started going into defence as much. Although his numbers would have dropped his work rate was still reasonably good. In the second half he was caught out of position a few times but his defensive positioning was pretty good overall. His run and spreading was at a high level - something we haven’t seen since last year.
Simon Phillips (for Redlegs v Panthers)
27 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 3 goals
Flipper was pretty good in the reserves with 27 touches and he worked a lot harder than in the last few weeks than when we’ve seen him play. He was a little bit cleaner but he still fumbled the ball a bit. A few cleaner touches would’ve helped prop his numbers up more and he missed a couple of goals, but other than that it was some of his best football for a few weeks.
Player of the Week
Aaron Young (for Roosters v Eagles)
25 disposals, 4 marks, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
North got pretty convincingly beaten but Youngy was their best player with 25 touches and 5 clearances. He was very clean and creative with his hands and did a lot of tough stuff inside which he often does. His intensity around the ball was really good, he used it well and although he didn’t kick any goals but most of the time he played in the midfield. After a performance as solid as that I’d reckon he’d be pushing for a recall to the senior side.
League
Steven Salopek (for Port Adelaide v Tigers)
22 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Sal was one of the Magpies’ best players with his class and ability to use the ball well standing out. Most of his disposals were kicks and he put his head over the ball to win possession. He looked a level above everyone else on the ground when he got the football and it was really just a continuation of his good form from the past couple of weeks.
Reserves
Mitch Banner (for Port Adelaide v Tigers)
35 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles, 13 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Mitch was best on ground for the Magpies and played through the midfield with 35 touches and 13 clearances. Once again he was particularly good offensively but could still work harder defensively. He needed to work on his stoppage spreading in the first half and rectified that in the second. His kicking efficiency would have been very good and he had a really big influence on the game and used the ball well.
Jarrad Irons (for Eagles v Roosters)
17 disposals, 2 marks, 3 rebound 50s
Had a solid game, his first half was pretty good but then the Eagles started to dominate and so the ball started going into defence as much. Although his numbers would have dropped his work rate was still reasonably good. In the second half he was caught out of position a few times but his defensive positioning was pretty good overall. His run and spreading was at a high level - something we haven’t seen since last year.
Simon Phillips (for Redlegs v Panthers)
27 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 3 goals
Flipper was pretty good in the reserves with 27 touches and he worked a lot harder than in the last few weeks than when we’ve seen him play. He was a little bit cleaner but he still fumbled the ball a bit. A few cleaner touches would’ve helped prop his numbers up more and he missed a couple of goals, but other than that it was some of his best football for a few weeks.
