PORT Adelaide’s SANFL list has been finalised with three ‘heartland’ players being offered the final contracts to play League football for the club in 2015.
Sean Davidson, Jack Haarsma and Luke Wilson join the ‘contract list’ spearheaded by Magpies captain Steven Summerton.
All three hail from Port Adelaide’s traditional, albeit now defunct zones.
Haarsma joined the club from Cummins, having played for the local Ramblers footy club, and is glad to be given the chance to earn a League game.
“It means a lot to be given the opportunity to earn a League game throughout the year,” Haarsma said.
“I came over as a junior in Under-16s, Under-18s and always dreamed of having an opportunity to play League in the Maggies jumper.
“It gives me something to work for, something to strive for, it means a lot to me.
Davidson is a local lad from North Haven, who grew up supporting Port in both the AFL and SANFL, and is excited by the opportunity to earn a senior spot each week.
“My family is full of Port supporters and it was always a dream of mine work hard through the ranks, the chance to play some League footy means a lot to me,” Davidson said.
“It’s such a great club, it’s a relief to earn a reward for some hard work.
“I’m one of the lucky ones to earn this contract, so I’ll need to keep working hard at training and on the day. It's what I really focussed hard on during the pre-season and I've got to keep it up."
Wilson is formerly of the Magpies, having originally come to Alberton from Salisbury West, before moving on to the club's traditional rivals Norwood.
His brother Anthony is the former Magpie and Redleg drafted to the Crows in this year's rookie draft.
The pair played against each other in a recent trial game at Alberton, but Luke knows he needs to tick all the boxes early in the year if he's to have another chance in the regular season.
“It was the first we’d played against each other, but we were at different ends, so we didn’t see much of each other," Wilson said.
“I’d love the chance to have a crack at him again.”
“My fitness needed a bit of work coming into this pre-season - I had a bit of time out of the system last year - I needed to adapt to being back in an SANFL team."
Port Adelaide's SANFL League and Academy teams will play final trial games against Goodwood Saints and Prince Alfred Old Collegians at Thebarton on Thursday night, ahead of its first games against South Adelaide at Noarlunga on Friday 10 April.
