PORT ADELAIDE’S non-selected players were able to take to the field in a competitive hit-out against Adelaide on Friday afternoon, claiming a come-from-behind win at Alberton Oval.
It marks three consecutive weeks the club has been able to organise a scratch match against outside competition and Development Coach, Matthew Lokan was thankful for the opportunity to get meaningful game time into the club’s young talent.
“It probably didn’t look like it was going to happen as we moved through the week this week, but it was great to be able to get Adelaide here to play 16 v 16,” he told portadelaidefc.com.au after the game.
“It beats training. It has been hard for our guys that haven’t been playing in the AFL side, but it’s great to be able to get some continuity with some games over the past few weeks.”
Port Adelaide’s side consisted of a good mix of developing youngsters and experienced heads, while it was required for four players to pull on a Crows jumper each period to even the numbers.
As a result, Lokan says the impact of Port’s leading contributors was pleasingly spread evenly across the group.
“It was pretty even. Similar to last week, I thought we had a lot of guys that showed some good glimpses,” he said.
“Now that we have been able to play some games over some consistent weeks I think the boys are starting to get in and play some real good footy.”
Of those that did catch the eye, Lokan said the experience and match fitness of those recently omitted from the club’s AFL side was evident.
“Today I thought Pete Ladhams was really good, Justin Westhoff kicked four goals and Riley Bonner, Sam Mayes, Jarrad Lienert provided some good run off half-back and through the wing,” he said.
“It is good for us that our guys, especially our senior guys are starting to get some touch back and into some form and pushing for a spot in the AFL team.”
However, Lokan also said there was reason to be optimistic about the futures of several of the club’s recent draftees.
Recent draftees Jackson Mead, Miles Bergman and Trent Burgoyne were amongst a group of young players that have been building in form in the absence of being able to ply their trade for the Magpies in the SANFL this season.
“That has been the hard thing for our younger players, to develop and then go out and practice what they’ve been learning during the week has been really difficult,” Lokan explained.
“Those guys are starting to get some continuity. Those three (Mead, Burgoyne and Bergman) showed some really good signs and I thought Marty Frederick and Boyd Woodcock showed some glimpses as well.
“It is just about playing and getting that consistency for those guys and then being able to actually do that on the weekend has been good for them.”
With a place in the top eight already secured and only three home and away matches remaining, competition for spots in Port’s best 22 is at an all-time high.
Lokan says it is a position the club should be thankful to be in and is the main reason why these recent competitive scrimmages have been all the more important.
“You look at the guys we had playing today a lot of those guys have had a lot of AFL experience,” he said.
“Brad Ebert, Justin Westhoff, Riley Bonner, Sam Mayes and Jarrad Lienert have all played some good AFL footy.
“There will be some selection headaches in the coming weeks, but that is what you want heading into finals.”