THE Port Adelaide Football Club has welcomed Esava Ratugolea to Alberton after the versatile tall was traded to the club from Geelong for picks 25, 76 and 94 on the final day of the Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period.
At 197cm and 108 kilograms, Ratugolea is athletic for his size and played his best AFL games as a defender. The 25-year old has played 75 games and has further growth in his game.
Ratugolea’s athleticism, ability to play on some of the bigger key forwards and intercept mark appealed to Port Adelaide list manager Jason Cripps.
“Esava’s size and skill set will assist with the improvement of our defensive group and our team defence overall ,” Cripps said.
“Esava is an outstanding young man and is also the right age for our list profile, so we are delighted to welcome him to the club.”
Ratugolea was claimed by Geelong with the 43rd pick in the 2016 AFL National Draft from the Murray Bushrangers, where he played alongside his new Port Adelaide teammate Todd Marshall.
Ratugolea will reunite at Alberton with former Geelong teammates Quinton Narkle and Francis Evans.
Esava Ratugolea
DOB: 24/07/1998
Height: 198cm
Weight: 108kg
Debut: Round 1, 2018
Drafted: Pick 43 in the 2016 national draft from Cobram (Victoria) / Murray U18
AFL games: 75 (16 in 2023)
AFL goals: 38 (0 in 2023)
Honours: 2021 Carter Family Community Champion (Geelong community service award)
