THE LOCKERS have been emptied, the footballs have been stowed and, now, all that’s left to do before the focus switches to ’09 is to reflect on the season that was.
This year 37 players, including six debutants, pulled on the Port Adelaide guernsey and over the coming days portadelaidefc.com.au will cast an eye over each individual performance in 2008.
Greg Bentley
Games: five
Bentley played his five AFL games of 2008 in succession between rounds 14 and 18. He picked up a season-high 21 touches and a goal against St Kilda in round 18, but was left out of the side the following week and couldn’t force his way back in.
Bentley played his five AFL games of 2008 in succession between rounds 14 and 18. He picked up a season-high 21 touches and a goal against St Kilda in round 18, but was left out of the side the following week and couldn’t force his way back in.
Travis Boak
Games: 17
The talented 20-year-old played the opening 13 games of the season before missing five out of the last nine with groin soreness. Boak, who was crowned the club’s most improved player in 2008, starred with 28 touches and a goal opposed to Saint Lenny Hayes in round 18 and was rewarded for his consistent second year with equal 10th in the best and fairest.
The talented 20-year-old played the opening 13 games of the season before missing five out of the last nine with groin soreness. Boak, who was crowned the club’s most improved player in 2008, starred with 28 touches and a goal opposed to Saint Lenny Hayes in round 18 and was rewarded for his consistent second year with equal 10th in the best and fairest.
Dean Brogan
Games: 21
Brogan was a barometer for Port Adelaide in a season where a number of the club’s leaders succumbed to form or fitness concerns. The uncompromising 29-year-old set the tone with his work in the centre square and also laid a career-high 53 tackles. Brogan stepped up as the Power’s number one ruckman in 2008 and picked up 17, or more, possessions on no fewer than six occasions.
Brogan was a barometer for Port Adelaide in a season where a number of the club’s leaders succumbed to form or fitness concerns. The uncompromising 29-year-old set the tone with his work in the centre square and also laid a career-high 53 tackles. Brogan stepped up as the Power’s number one ruckman in 2008 and picked up 17, or more, possessions on no fewer than six occasions.
Peter Burgoyne
Games: 17
Burgoyne started and finished the season in spectacular fashion, backing up his 41-possession game against Adelaide in round three with a whopping 45 touches in round 22. The dashing veteran was sent back to the Port Adelaide Magpies for disciplinary reasons partway through the season, but responded like the true champion he is with two near best on ground performances to round out the year.
Burgoyne started and finished the season in spectacular fashion, backing up his 41-possession game against Adelaide in round three with a whopping 45 touches in round 22. The dashing veteran was sent back to the Port Adelaide Magpies for disciplinary reasons partway through the season, but responded like the true champion he is with two near best on ground performances to round out the year.
Shaun Burgoyne
Games: 19
Burgoyne continued to destroy teams when afforded time and space in 2008. The fleet-footed onballer racked up 33 possessions, including a season-high 18 clearances, against Collingwood in round 20 and also maintained his goal a game average, finishing with 23 for the year. He took on the captaincy in the latter half of the season and, despite missing three games through suspension, polled fourth in the club’s best and fairest.
Burgoyne continued to destroy teams when afforded time and space in 2008. The fleet-footed onballer racked up 33 possessions, including a season-high 18 clearances, against Collingwood in round 20 and also maintained his goal a game average, finishing with 23 for the year. He took on the captaincy in the latter half of the season and, despite missing three games through suspension, polled fourth in the club’s best and fairest.
Alipate Carlile
Games: 22
The 21-year-old made a seamless transition to AFL football this season, playing every game and taking on the League’s best forwards every week. The quick-thinking full back was recognised for his breakout year with outright fifth in the Power’s best and fairest and won the Gavin Wanganeen Medal for the best player aged 21 or under.
The 21-year-old made a seamless transition to AFL football this season, playing every game and taking on the League’s best forwards every week. The quick-thinking full back was recognised for his breakout year with outright fifth in the Power’s best and fairest and won the Gavin Wanganeen Medal for the best player aged 21 or under.
Dom Cassisi
Games: 21
Cassisi enjoyed an individually brilliant 2008, coming runner-up behind Kane Cornes in the John Cahill Medal and finishing second in the AFL for tackling. The hard-nosed midfielder had 95 clearances for the season and claimed both the Fos Williams Medal and the Best Team Man award at the club’s best and fairest ceremony.
Cassisi enjoyed an individually brilliant 2008, coming runner-up behind Kane Cornes in the John Cahill Medal and finishing second in the AFL for tackling. The hard-nosed midfielder had 95 clearances for the season and claimed both the Fos Williams Medal and the Best Team Man award at the club’s best and fairest ceremony.
Troy Chaplin
Games: 19
The 22-year-old cemented his place at centre-half back in 2008 with some tough jobs on opposition forwards. Chaplin, who routinely sacrifices his body for the cause, enjoyed similar statistics to last year and will be looking to take a step up in ’09.
The 22-year-old cemented his place at centre-half back in 2008 with some tough jobs on opposition forwards. Chaplin, who routinely sacrifices his body for the cause, enjoyed similar statistics to last year and will be looking to take a step up in ’09.
Chad Cornes
Games: 13
The Port Adelaide match-winner has been rebuilt like the Bionic Man after a nightmare season, in which he suffered separate finger, knee, shoulder and calf injuries. Cornes showed great heart in trying to play through the pain, but eventually succumbed in round 16 after helping his side to a stirring Showdown win.
Kane Cornes
Games: 22
Cornes maintained his mantle as the Power’s most consistent player, backing up last year’s All-Australian effort with another statistically impressive season. The John Cahill Medallist averaged 28 touches and four tackles in 2008, while also shutting down the opposition’s best ball winner.
Cornes maintained his mantle as the Power’s most consistent player, backing up last year’s All-Australian effort with another statistically impressive season. The John Cahill Medallist averaged 28 touches and four tackles in 2008, while also shutting down the opposition’s best ball winner.
Fabian Deluca
Games: five
The lanky 203cm ruckman enjoyed a superb pre-season and was finally rewarded with a place in the Port Adelaide side in round 14. Deluca, 21, amassed 22 hit-outs in the loss to St Kilda in round 18 and will be looking to further his development in ’09.
The lanky 203cm ruckman enjoyed a superb pre-season and was finally rewarded with a place in the Port Adelaide side in round 14. Deluca, 21, amassed 22 hit-outs in the loss to St Kilda in round 18 and will be looking to further his development in ’09.
Brett Ebert
Games: 19
Ebert’s pre-season was derailed by a nagging groin complaint and he started the season somewhat slowly as a result. The Power’s 2007 leading goalkicker starred with six goals against the Sydney Swans in round nine before rolling his ankle and was still a consistent contributor finishing the season with 33 goals.
Ebert’s pre-season was derailed by a nagging groin complaint and he started the season somewhat slowly as a result. The Power’s 2007 leading goalkicker starred with six goals against the Sydney Swans in round nine before rolling his ankle and was still a consistent contributor finishing the season with 33 goals.
Check back later in the week to read parts two and three of portadelaidefc.com.au’s 2008 player review.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
