PORT ADELAIDE had six AFL debutants in 2019 among nine players who played their first games for the Power this season.
Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Willem Drew, Xavier Duursma, Joel Garner and Peter Ladhams each played their first AFL game during the season, while new recruits Scott Lycett and Ryan Burton and mid-season rookie Cam Sutcliffe each pulled on the Power guernsey for the first time at various stages in the first 17 rounds.
Portadelaidefc.com.au takes a quick look at each of their debuts, which were celebrated at the club’s best and fairest event at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday night.
Round 1 v Melbourne
Scott Lycett, Ryan Burton, Willem Drew, Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma.
Round 1 saw six club debutants presented with their Power guernseys for the first time.
Among them were four players making their AFL debut on the biggest stage at the MCG.
Scott Lycett had returned to Alberton, where he was originally drafted from, at the end of 2018 having finished the season as a premiership ruckman with West Coast.
His return to the scene of that premiership success was fruitful, as he picked up 16 hit-outs and 10 disposals in the win over the Demons.
Burton joined the club he supported as a child after being traded by Hawthorn at the end of 2018 and he too impressed with 26 touches and five tackles off half back.
Drew earned his chance to make his AFL debut with a strong pre-season and Rozee, Butters and Duursma didn’t surprise many by getting their chance so soon after being drafted. Each of the AFL debutants played a role on the day. Drew finished with 21 disposals, four clearances, five marks and five tackles while Duursma had 16 touches and a goal on debut. Rozee competed well up forward with 18 disposals, five tackles and seven score involvements while Butters booted two goals from his 13 disposals and laid three tackles.
Round 9 v Gold Coast
Joel Garner
Garner’s 2018 season was wrecked by injury and a shoulder operation mid-year. His pre-season form in just his second season on the list was impressive.
By round 9, Garner had shown composure, good decision making and elite foot skills off half back as well as a defensive nous, especially on bigger and more experienced opponents.
His debut against the Suns at Adelaide Oval was punctuated by a clever defensive effort to spoil opponent Alex Sexton just before half time.
He finished with 13 assured possessions, five marks and two tackles in a 38-point victory.
Garner would finish with four games for the season and a contract extension.
Round 10 v Hawthorn
Peter Ladhams
A changed perception on his career and an improved level of professionalism and preparation saw Ladhams take his game to another level in 2019.
The 202-centimetre big man forced his way into the side for the round 10 loss to Hawthorn after an injury to Scott Lycett and he didn’t look out of place.
On a disappointing day for the club, Ladhams was a rare shining light, ending up with 13 disposals and nine hit-outs.
He capped his performance with a late goal from a difficult set shot to show signs that he could be a long-term option.
He later earned a contract extension and finished the season with five AFL games in total.
Round 17 v Brisbane
Cam Sutcliffe
Sutcliffe became the first player to be claimed by the Power in a mid-season rookie draft after the AFL reinstated the event.
The club skipper in the SANFL had done enough in his short time at the club to impress and by Round 17 he was brought into the AFL side to make his club debut after more than 100 games at Fremantle.
The former Docker came up against one of his former teammates in Lachie Neale first up and finished on a losing side but he didn’t look out of place.
Sutcliffe finished with ten disposals and four tackles in a defensive lock-down role.
The 27-year-old ended up playing five games in 2019 bringing his career total to 109.
DEBUTANTS
AFL
Scott Lycett (Round 1 v Melbourne; club)
Ryan Burton (Round 1 v Melbourne; club)
Willem Drew (Round 1 v Melbourne; AFL)
Connor Rozee (Round 1 v Melbourne; AFL)
Zak Butters (Round 1 v Melbourne; AFL)
Xavier Duursma (Round 1 v Melbourne; AFL)
Joel Garner (Round 1 v Melbourne; AFL)
Peter Ladhams (Round 1 v Melbourne; AFL)
SANFL
Cameron Sutcliffe (Round 1 v West Adelaide; club)
Dallas Hill (Round 1 v West Adelaide; club)
Matt Appleton (Round 1 v West Adelaide; club)
Boyd Woodcock (Round 1 v West Adelaide; club)
Kai Pudney (Round 1 v West Adelaide; SANFL)
Martin Frederick (Round 1 v West Adelaide; SANFL)
Sam Mayes (Round 1 v West Adelaide; club)
Tobin Cox (Round 1 v West Adelaide; club)
Thomas Corcoran (Round 1 v West Adelaide; SANFL)
Riley Grundy (Round 2 v South Adelaide; SANFL)
Ben Edwards (Round 3 v North Adelaide; club)
Steven Motlop (Round 4 v Norwood; SANFL)
Jack Elsworthy (Round 5 v Eagles; SANFL)
Justin Westhoff (Round 11 v North Adelaide; club)
Zak Butters (Round 18 v Central District; SANFL)
AFL/SANFL denotes debut game, club denotes first game for Port Adelaide
