ANYONE who knows Jed McEntee knows how hard he works.
So, when his name was called by Port Adelaide as the 13th pick at the 2021 mid-season rookie draft there was only one person who had mixed feelings about it… his boss.
McEntee has been working full time at a business in Dudley Park and the boss lost two staff in the space of ten picks at Wednesday night’s draft.
“I’ve been working full-time at a place called Lawson Automotive. We build drawer systems to fit into 4WDs and vans and things,” McEntee told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“We also had another bloke, Ash Johnson, who was working there with us who has been drafted (to Collingwood), so the boss will be two staff down.
“There are a bunch of Sturt boys working there but the boss is a big Double Blues supporter and I think more than anything he’s happy for us.”
Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps admitted the club had kept an eye on 20-year-old McEntee in recent years after he was overlooked in his draft year in 2019.
McEntee thought he might have missed his opportunity to play at the highest level and when the news came through that he would be joining Port Adelaide, nobody was happier than his parents, who knew how desperate he was for his chance.
“Seeing Mum and Dad be so happy was the best thing,” he said.
“It was more of a relief than anything for me. I was thrilled.
“My phone went ballistic about ten seconds after my name came up. Mates, family, everyone was congratulating me.
“For me it shows that hard work does pay off. I’ve always been a hard worker and to see it not pay off the first time (in 2019) was a bit disappointing but to see what I’ve been able to do to build some confidence in myself and perform at a level to put myself in the frame to be drafted was pleasing.”
McEntee had featured in all eight games for the Double Blues this season, averaging 19.1 disposals, 5.4 tackles and 4.1 clearances per game.
That tackling pressure is one of the key attributes that Port Adelaide recruiters liked along with his speed and agility.
McEntee played Under 18 state football in 2019 with new Port Adelaide teammates Jackson Mead, Trent Burgoyne and Taj Schofield, and he said seeing some familiar faces will make it easier to settle in to life at Alberton.
“The first day will be very exciting but I’ll be pretty nervous,” McEntee said of his likely first day at training on Friday.
“I’m a pretty shy person so I’m not a person to speak my thoughts.
“Once I get out there, I’m sure I’ll be fine.
“I’ve been brought in to play a role and to improve myself as a footballer. If I can learn that role and play it at a level that Ken and the coaches want, then I’ll be happy.”
Having debuted for Sturt in Round 1, 2020, McEntee won the Cec May Best Emerging Talent Award after playing every game that season.
The 176-centimetre midfielder is the second player – after Cam Sutcliffe in 2019 - to join the club through a mid-season rookie draft.
