First-year players Cameron O'Shea and Ben Jacobs were impressive in the Power's gallant 21-point loss against Melbourne at TIO Stadium in Darwin on Saturday night.
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Jacobs was the club's prized first-round NAB AFL Draft pick last year at number 16, while O'Shea was a value pick up at 52 in the 2010 draft and has only missed two games this year.
O'Shea was among his team's best with a career-high 20 possessions, while Jacobs picked up 22 to go along with five rebound 50s.
Both players were called upon to quell Melbourne's scoring weapons in the back half after the Demons jumped out to a commanding four-goal lead in the first term.
O'Shea was perhaps his team's best player early in the game, with his senior teammates struggling to have any real influence on the game.
He has been a solid addition to the Power's defence, which contains the likes of Troy Chaplin and Alipate Carlile.
After being drafted out of the Eastern Ranges in the TAC Cup last year, O'Shea has adapted well to the intensity of senior football and has grown into a solid player since making his debut against Collingwood in round one.
The 192cm utility has shown an ability to play valuable run-with roles on key opposition players - including a stopping job on West Coast playmaker Andrew Embley earlier in the season - but against Melbourne he was allowed a little more freedom, which enabled him to flourish.
He has strong endurance capabilities and versatility to fill a number of roles for coach Matthew Primus.
Jacobs, who had an interrupted pre-season after contracting glandular fever, has also gone from strength to strength after making his debut against Sydney in round eight.
His composure and damaging kicking skills are real strengths in his game, and the Power hope he can be a prime mover for them through the midfield in years to come.
The 185cm midfielder from the Sandringham Dragons also has a propensity to win plenty of the ball, after amassing 47 possessions playing for Vic Metro against South Australia in last year's NAB AFL Under-18 National Championships.
He may not be able replicate those sort of statistics at senior level just yet, but he is well on his way to becoming an important player in Port Adelaide's rebuilding phase.
As for O'Shea, his durability and strong work ethic will enable him to become a key cog in defence or through the midfield as Port Adelaide look to emerge from a difficult time in the football club's history.
