New Port Adelaide recruits Mitch Zadow and Balyn O’Brien have seen their hard work pay off, with both earning an AFL list spot for the 2026 season. 

Zadow, an East Fremantle small forward and O’Brien, a 19-year-old wiry defender, joined the Power’s squad over the summer to audition for a place in the side, with the pair given the good news on Monday. 

Speaking with the Adelaide media on Tuesday, the boys touched on how they found out, what the train-on experience was like, and how grateful they are for the opportunity. 

Zadow on earning an AFL list spot 
“It’s amazing. I guess I really haven't had time to even dream about this being a possibility, like it’s all pretty new to me, and I’m just loving every second of training here, and just can't wait to properly crack in now, that's for sure.” 

Zadow on being asked to train with Port Adelaide 
“It came on pretty late. There was no real talk to Port during the year or anything. Little whispers through the club, and then (Port) called me before the rookie draft, and said if you get through, we'd love to have you over. That was obviously a big shock. I was bit injured during the year, so I was in rehab for the first couple of months over here. So it was an awesome call, like, I'll never forget that. And I was just keen to get over. And I’ve loved every second of so far.” 

Zadow on moving from Perth to Adelaide to trial 
“No (reservations) at all. I recently just moved up to Perth, so I was only just getting settled up there, but I'm loving it (here). It was never a worry for me, I’d do whatever to get this opportunity.” 

Zadow on whether he thought he’d get a list spot 
“I like not to think too far forward, just taking it day by day, and let the result happen itself. So never was really too confident, but yeah, finding out was absolutely awesome. I think (I was meant to find out) during the review, but Paul Stewart sort of ruined that and made us sign a little contact beforehand. Me and Balyn had to keep quiet for a few hours, so it was just us that knew. We were looking at each other, smiling and trying not to give away. So it was pretty funny. But, yeah, it was awesome.  

“Paul just sort of said ‘come see me’ and I walked into his (office) and he said congratulations. And I said ‘for what?’ He said, ‘you’re a Port player.’ Like I said, I feel like I haven’t had time to dream about it, like AFL footy wasn't always really an option for me. I only started really taking it seriously couple years ago. So being here is awesome.” 

Zadow on his fast football progress 
“A couple years ago, I'd say that I was hoping to play WAFL league footy, and now I'm here, which is crazy. When I was a bit younger, I played cricket a bit more and was a bit more serious about that. I was bit of a late bloomer, and then just started taking footy in my stride, quit cricket to do it full time and start playing WAFL footy. That was in my draft year, and I was obviously a fair way off at that point. I just feel like each step I've taken I've got to the level quite quickly. And, yeah, I've sort of amazed myself in that regard.” 

Zadow on his strengths 
“I think my speed, my power, my physicality, and I can probably play a bit taller and a bit smaller. It's new to sort of use those weapons, but that's what I'll take into this year. And pretty keen to crack in and take as much from the older boys as I can.” 

Zadow on Port Adelaide having a history of playing young players 
“Yeah, for sure, that definitely gives me a bit of confidence. And just the confidence from the club, believing that I have high potential is just awesome and I’m willing to do anything to try and reach that. And that's been the goal all along is just to see how far I can, I can take myself.” 

Zadow on the SSP experience  
“I had a pretty good outlook on it all. Like, I was so surprised by the opportunity in the first place that I was just so grateful to be here. And all the boys that have trialled, we all got along really well, so I think that helped. We all just want to get better and see what can happen. And there was no bad blood between ourselves. It was awesome. The boys have been great. Really welcoming. Makes it a lot easier for us.” 

Zadow on who he called after finding out 
“I had to wait a while. It was probably two hours after the news was spread on social media. I rang my dad straight away, and my mum, they were just ecstatic. They were probably waiting on the phone call for a little bit. So I felt a little bad. They're even more surprised, they can’t believe it, just like me.” 

Zadow on his cricket background 
“I was an opening batter. I played first grade premier cricket back home. I was in the process of getting selected in the WA under 18s but quit to pursue WAFL footy and I couldn't really do both. I just lost the love for it, and footy was what I was enjoying at the time. So, I showed up to East Freo. I travelled eight hours a week up there each training session, and just tried to get the most out of myself. So I’m glad did it in the end. 

“I did that (travel from Pinjarra to East Fremantle) for a year and a half, and then sort of gave myself the ultimatum that I can't really keep doing this. The travel was getting to me a bit because I would never miss a session. I wanted to go to every session. So I was lucky enough to move up with one of the boys, Zach Rankin, last year, and he was awesome for me. I was just so thankful that I moved up in the first place. That's helped me grow as a person, that's for sure. And it made footy a lot easier.” 

Zadow on how the time and effort has paid off 
“It’s just awesome. Words can't even describe…it probably fully hasn't kicked in yet. I guess this press conference is probably the first to tick off. But, it's so rewarding, and I'm so thankful that I kept going and going until I got this opportunity.” 

Zadow on being signed with Balyn O’Brien 
“I remember day one, when we were standing around in the physio room not knowing what to do and not talking to anyone else but ourselves, and we've got along really well from the start, so it's been awesome. I wish him the best for what he can do, and hopefully we can both succeed. So I’m excited for future, that's for sure.” 

O’Brien on finding out he had a list spot 
“I was pretty speechless. Me and Mitch just went into the room, signed a few papers, and I was just like, oh, this can't be true. It's just a dream come true. So I was really excited about that and just grateful for the opportunity.” 

O’Brien on who he called after finding out 
“I wasn’t able to get hold of mum and that for a while, because we obviously had the team meeting, and then had to split up into three different groups in the line rooms. And then after that, I gave mum and dad a call, and then found out they were still over here (in Adelaide). So then I went out to tea with them that night, which was good. 

“I was probably blushing a fair bit (during the afternoon meetings). I went pretty red, but I was just trying not to smile. But when we were doing the gym session in there, me and Mitch just kept walking past each other, trying not to smile, trying to keep a straight face! We were just trying to keep it on the down a bit.” 

O’Brien on being overlooked in the national draft 
“I missed out on being drafted. I was pretty frustrated with that, but also it just happens that way. But then I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity here with the SSP spot. So I was grateful for that. 

“I got a phone call the day of the rookie draft from (national recruiting manager) Geoff (Parker). He rang me, and he was just like ‘hey mate, if you slide through the rookie draft, we'd love to have you at the club just to train on for us and see what you do. It was only about a week turnaround, so I just went home, just focused, like, just took some time off, just relax the mind a bit, just went back to the farm (at Wudinna), and then (the opportunity) came about, and then just tried to put my best foot forward out here.” 

O’Brien on who he supported growing up 
“I was actually a Geelong man growing up. And then, I went to Richmond. And I’m definitely a Power man now.” 

O’Brien on his SANFL experience in 2025 
“That was definitely another step up. That was a great opportunity. Not many people get that opportunity at a young age, so I (didn’t take) that for granted. I built a lot of confidence out of that, and then just from there on, just tried to work up a bit and then build from there. If I hadn’t played league games or even trained with the league at Norwood, it would have been a lot more intimidating than what it was (to come to Port Adelaide). But I'm glad I got a few games at league level and then that just felt a lot easier to settle in.” 

O’Brien on his strengths  
“Definitely my physicality as well as my athleticism. So I think that's what I bring to the team.” 

O’Brien on whether he thought he’d get a list spot 
“No, I did not think I was going to get it. I just tried not to think about it, just tried to think about the next day, and then from there, just tried to build on to what I had already. Just grateful for the opportunity. I was very happy with how I went in the end, and then in a few trial games, I definitely felt like I played my part in it, and Mitch played his part. So yeah, we definitely went well.”