Port Adelaide development coach Matthew Nicks this week reviews those players who suited up for SANFL sides on the weekend.
Port Adelaide drew with Glenelg at Alberton in a match where Brett Ebert and Steven Salopek worked to regain full match fitness for re-entry into the Power 22.
The Bulldogs accounted for North Adelaide at Elizabeth Oval where Andrew Moore and Nathan Blee continued their good work for the red and white’s backline, whilst Sturt overcame West at Richmond in a match with a significant Power contingent. The Eagles narrowly went down against South Adelaide at Noarlunga.
Brett Ebert (for Port Adelaide v Tigers)
First game for Ebo in quite a while, he’ll play for the Magpies again this weekend which gives him an opportunity to get some more game time under his belt. We know what he can do at AFL level, so it’s just a matter of him getting some more match fitness in the SANFL this week.
Mitch Banner (for Port Adelaide v Tigers)
Banner played on-ball for the Magpies, had a reasonable run around for them and he’ll focus on his key areas again on Friday night against the Eagles.
Brendon Ah Chee (for Port Adelaide v Tigers)
First year player who’s really getting to know the group in the SANFL squad. ‘Arch’ played up forward in the first half for the reserves and followed it up running out the second half for the League side. He got a real spurt on the ball in the resses and is finding it to be more comfortable there as he's better able to win his own ball and that’s why we picked him up in the draft. He’s still getting used to the speed of League level but that will come with time and he’s slotting into the Magpies well.
Steven Salopek (for Tigers v Port Adelaide)
Salopek was good, got 20-odd possessions so he was getting involved, got a good run around after being sidelined in the Power v Fremantle game which he wouldn’t have got had he played AFL last week.
Andrew Moore and Nathan Blee (for Roosters v Bulldogs)
These guys played down back - probably under the pump early with Centrals certainly on top throughout the first three quarters. The boys played well but probably didn't have as much defensive run as we would have liked given the conditions.
Ben Newton (for Bloods reserves v Double Blues)
Ben Newton got another game under his belt in the West Adelaide reserves and it’s fantastic to see him playing some footy now. He’ll play another full game in the reserves this weekend and the main thing for him is to focus on playing full games of football. He’s up to about 90% game time now, which is a really good thing for him.
Daniel Webb (for Bloods v Double Blues)
Played in the ruck and up forward. He’s changing his game and becoming really aggressive now - the real focus for him is up forward where he had one really special mark in the first quarter which got him going for the game - so it just adds to the good stuff we’ve been seeing from him at the Bloods.
Mitch Curnow (for Double Blues reserves v Bloods)
Curnow played reserves for Sturt in the ruck. A real young ruckman for us, Mitchy’s been working on his competitive side and stepped it up a notch on the weekend. He’s in the same boat as Webb - we’re asking these guys to start to take control of games, so it’s been good to see that from him at a reserves level, particularly considering he was playing Under 18s last year.
Jarrad Irons (for Eagles v Panthers)
Jarrad Irons played again for the Eagles in their reserves side and he’s been there for a couple of weeks working away at a few key things we’ve given him - he continues to progress and will line up in the ressies against the Magpies on Friday night.
This Week’s Players in the SANFL
Eagles v Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide: Brett Ebert, Banner, Ah Chee* Eagles: Irons*
Panthers v Bloods
Bloods: Webb, Newton*
Redlegs v Double Blues (trial)
Redlegs: Rodan, Thomas, Phillips, Jonas
Double Blues: Curnow*
Roosters (internal trial):
Moore
