PORT Adelaide fans arrived at Alberton on Saturday afternoon keen to see the club’s newbies strut their stuff, but it was two familiar faces who stole the show.
Premiership stars Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne were both dropped from Port Adelaide's senior side at different stages last season but the duo starred in the club's six-quarter hit-out against SANFL sides Sturt and Port Adelaide Magpies.
Lade dominated in the ruck and linked up with the eldest Burgoyne brother to create passages of flawless play. He also pushed forward and booted two goals.
Chad Cornes, who underwent three operations over the summer, also appeared to regain some touch.
Coach Mark Williams said the trio’s form would be vital to his side’s surge back up the ladder in 2009.
“There’s no doubt Ladey and Peter have still got some fantastic football left in them,” Williams said after the game.
“I thought those two and also Chad, who played well and even got belted early, were great today, especially Peter and Chad coming off significant injury.
“Steve Salopek had a stack of possessions too and he hasn’t played much of the contested stuff for a long, long time because of his achilles injury, so that was significant for us as well.”
Salopek joined Nathan Krakouer and Marlon Motlop on an undersized half-back line partway through the opening game with the latter two offering plenty of drive and finesse.
Williams praised the efforts of impressive second year players Motlop, Nick Salter and Matthew Westhoff, and expressed delight at the form of some of the Power’s untried youngsters.
“Matthew Lobbe only played in the Port Magpies’ seconds last year, but I thought he did some good stuff for us and for the Magpies today. Mitch Banner did okay and Matthew Broadbent hit the ball hard a couple of times and smashed in low,” Williams said.
“We had a lot of young players who were given opportunities in the last three-quarters of the season last year. I thought Matthew Westhoff did some good stuff today and he hadn’t played AFL before [we gave him a chance late last year].
“I thought Salter showed some good stuff and I think he’s just a brilliant kick and mark. Marlon Motlop was another one who got an opportunity last year, and I think those opportunities will bear fruit as the season progresses.”
The Power triumphed by a total of 124 points across the two games against Sturt and the Port Adelaide Magpies, but Williams said the hit-out was still a worthwhile exercise leading into the NAB Cup.
The day also raised funds for the Red Cross’ Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
“We certainly got more out of the games than when we’ve played against ourselves [in the past]. We had 6000 people come here today to support the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and support this notion and that was great for us,” he said.
“Our players are quite fit and we’ve been saying it for a long, long time. The whole club is looking forward to the start of the season because it’s been a long, tough pre-season.
“Both mentally and physically, we’re ready for the start of the year.”
