OLLIE LORD has only been to Adelaide once, for a basketball carnival six years ago, so when he arrives at Alberton for his first day of pre-season training on Monday, he will welcome seeing a familiar face.
Lord was claimed by Port Adelaide with pick 49 in Wednesday night’s AFL National Draft, which came as a surprise to the 195cm key forward.
One of the first to congratulate him was 2019 draftee Miles Bergman, who played with the Geelong Grammar product at the Sandringham Dragons.
“I texted him straight away and I called him on Thursday and had a good chat,” Bergman told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“It sounds like he’s pretty excited to come down so it’ll be good to see him.
“I think he’ll be fine to make his own way but I’ll definitely look after him.
“I let him know I’ve got his back but I think he’ll fit in well.”
The pair did not manage too many games together with Bergman’s AFL Academy involvement and Lord’s school football, but Bergman is excited about what Lord could bring to the Port Adelaide side.
“I didn’t get to see him a whole heap. He had school footy and stuff. We had a couple of trainings together and I think we played a few games together as well,” he said.
“He was really hard working and just a great kid.
“He’s definitely really athletic so he’ll be one of our keys and he’s 195cm so he’s really tall.
“He can run well and can jump well, plus he’s handy at ground level, so I think he’ll be pretty exciting.”
Lord is the grandson of 1962 Brownlow Medallist Alistair Lord, who was also a Geelong premiership player in 1963.
For his part, the new Port Adelaide player is expecting to settle well into Adelaide and his new club.
“I’m super excited about it. It’s a big move interstate but I come from a boarding school so I’m pretty independent with my living and will handle the move away from home really well,” Lord said.
“I played a basketball tournament in Adelaide about six years ago but my aunty and uncle are there who moved from Geelong to Adelaide so it’s good to have some family there, I know they’ll support me.
“I’m super excited to get to a new environment, especially at Port Adelaide.”
