THE Eyre Peninsula will be strongly represented in Port Adelaide’s SANFL contract list this year, following the signing of Ciaran Hollingworth-Hughes and Sidney Masters to be senior Magpies in 2015.

Hollingworth-Hughes and Masters, both 20, were offered new contracts on both the back of injecting versatility into the club’s senior contract list, but particularly strong pre-seasons on the track.

Hailing from West Whyalla, like fellow contract player Ben Sawford, Hollingworth-Hughes was a member of the Port Adelaide Country Academy and several of the club’s other junior programs for several years.

First playing for the club in 2011 as a member of its Under-16 team, his first full season with the Magpies was in 2013 with its Under-18 ‘Centre of Excellence’ side.

With 13 games under his belt last year, he told portadelaidefc.com.au the superior training program at Alberton was an incentive to stay on over summer and push for a league contract.

“I’ve played for Port Adelaide since my junior days back in Whyalla, and slowly progressed through the ranks,” Hollingworth-Hughes said.

“It’s been a slow and steady progression and I’m thankful for the opportunity to represent the club, hopefully soon enough in the league team.

“The program that’s been set out of the past couple of years has been really good, probably far superior to anything I’ve done previously or could experience anywhere else.

“The expectation on the group to step up and be accountable is something I try to take on myself and be better than the person next to me, I want to be the best team player I can be.”

Masters turned 20 on Wednesday and as a product of the Ports Football Club, moved to Adelaide to finish high school at Sacred Heart College.

He polished off his first full season in 2014 by playing all of the Academy’s 18 games as a key defender after changing from his junior role as a power forward.

Now, it’s all about consolidating his spot in the senior group.

“It means a lot, just growing up on the Eyre Peninsula in our zone, I always wanted to play for the Port Adelaide Football Club,” Masters said.

“Hopefully I can earn a place in the League team this year.

“I started this year in January - a little under done - and pre-season has been pretty full-on.

“But I’m feeling pretty good now and I’m really excited about what the rest of the year holds.”

Port Adelaide now has just three places in its contract group remaining, which are expected to be finalised early next week.