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ONLY a handful of Power-listed players ran out in the SANFL on the weekend, with the Port Adelaide development team pleased with several encouraging performances.
Mitch Banner was named Player of the Week on his return from injury in the Port Adelaide SANFL Reserves side, whilst Nathan Blee (North Adelaide) took a step forward in his development under the pressure of a Magpies siege to the Roosters' defence at Prospect Oval on Saturday.
Jasper Pittard was solid for Sturt against the Bulldogs as he continues to move forward in his form and presses for AFL selection.
Mitch Banner (for Port Adelaide reserves v Roosters)
30 disposals, 10 marks, 1 tackle, 4 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal
Mitch came back for his first game for a long time and got through it really well with a typical ‘Mitch’ game. He worked hard and got up forward with 30 possessions from just 75% game time, had a lot of uncontested stuff and a heap of inside 50s. It was a pretty comprehensive day for him and he looked way too good for ‘twos’ level and he said he pulled up well after the game so he should step up to the League next week.
League
Steven Salopek (for Port Adelaide v Roosters)
20 disposals, 9 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 inside 50s
Sal played his first game back from injury and was pretty sound with 20 possessions - a lot of uncontested stuff - playing on-ball and at half forward. His performance was handy in a good win for the Magpies. He’s not back to his damaging best but it was a decent contribution from him considering his return from injury and it’s good to see him get through it.
Ben Jacobs (for Port Adelaide v Roosters)
10 disposals, 2 clearances, 2 rebound 50s
Looked good at first but disappointingly went out of the game. His work rate was good but he just couldn’t seem to find the ball. Playing on the wing and down back, it was his first game at the Magpies and we expect him to use those skills we know he has as he gets more used to the structure and style of the Maggies.
Jasper Pittard (for Double Blues v Bulldogs)
17 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 2 rebound 50s
Jasper played at half back and had 17 possessions in a reasonable game where he ran and worked hard to receive the football. For Jasper it’s just another game under his belt as he works to get his fitness back and hopefully soon we’ll see him appearing at senior selection.
Nathan Blee (for Roosters v Port Adelaide)
14 disposals, 5 makrs, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50s, 2 goals
Bleezy started down back on Mercer for Port who’s a League-level goal kicker. He did some really good stuff and started to employ some of the skills we’ve been working on with him. He looked a lot more well-rounded and composed under the constant pressure the Magpies’ inside 50s were putting on North’s defence. It was also pleasing to see him be a lot more physical in the first half, which we’ve also wanted from him. He got put forward in the second half and kicked 2.1 and looked lively. Although we love seeing our guys kick goals, we see him as an potential AFL defender and want him to develop down back at North.
Simon Phillips (for Redlegs v Eagles)
7 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal
Flip struggled for the Legs in their win over the Eagles. Only managing 1.1, he wasn’t able to get much of the footy and was pretty limited in his impact throughout the game. With only 7 disposals and a couple of defensive acts, we want to see him get back to the damaging form he had at Norwood earlier in the year.
Nick Salter (for Eagles v Redlegs)
11 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 hit out, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal
Salts got 11 possessions, a goal and played pretty deep up forward in a losing side. He made space pretty well and it’s looking as though his foot is better as he didn’t seem to struggle. He got through almost all of the game which is an encouraging sign as he becomes comfortable playing back in the firsts.
Reserves
Brendon Ah Chee (for Port Adelaide v Roosters)
14 disposals, 5 marks, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal
‘Arch’ changed on ball with Banner for a lot of the game and started slowly, but was pretty after quarter time and finished with 17 touches and a goal. He tended to be caught a bit outside of the play at times and we want to see his hunger for the ball increase. If he can win a bit more of it he’ll really start to press for League selection.
Mitch Curnow (for Double Blues v Bulldogs)
12 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 18 hit outs, 2 clearances
Mitch was very strong in the ruck contests and showed a lot more aggression than what we’ve seen and we were happy with how he performed. He didn’t get a lot of football around the ground, but that’s another area that he can switch his focus to if he starts performing consistently in the ruck.
10 disposals, 2 clearances, 2 rebound 50s
Looked good at first but disappointingly went out of the game. His work rate was good but he just couldn’t seem to find the ball. Playing on the wing and down back, it was his first game at the Magpies and we expect him to use those skills we know he has as he gets more used to the structure and style of the Maggies.
Jasper Pittard (for Double Blues v Bulldogs)
17 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 2 rebound 50s
Jasper played at half back and had 17 possessions in a reasonable game where he ran and worked hard to receive the football. For Jasper it’s just another game under his belt as he works to get his fitness back and hopefully soon we’ll see him appearing at senior selection.
Nathan Blee (for Roosters v Port Adelaide)
14 disposals, 5 makrs, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50s, 2 goals
Bleezy started down back on Mercer for Port who’s a League-level goal kicker. He did some really good stuff and started to employ some of the skills we’ve been working on with him. He looked a lot more well-rounded and composed under the constant pressure the Magpies’ inside 50s were putting on North’s defence. It was also pleasing to see him be a lot more physical in the first half, which we’ve also wanted from him. He got put forward in the second half and kicked 2.1 and looked lively. Although we love seeing our guys kick goals, we see him as an potential AFL defender and want him to develop down back at North.
Simon Phillips (for Redlegs v Eagles)
7 disposals, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal
Flip struggled for the Legs in their win over the Eagles. Only managing 1.1, he wasn’t able to get much of the footy and was pretty limited in his impact throughout the game. With only 7 disposals and a couple of defensive acts, we want to see him get back to the damaging form he had at Norwood earlier in the year.
Nick Salter (for Eagles v Redlegs)
11 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 hit out, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal
Salts got 11 possessions, a goal and played pretty deep up forward in a losing side. He made space pretty well and it’s looking as though his foot is better as he didn’t seem to struggle. He got through almost all of the game which is an encouraging sign as he becomes comfortable playing back in the firsts.
Reserves
Brendon Ah Chee (for Port Adelaide v Roosters)
14 disposals, 5 marks, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal
‘Arch’ changed on ball with Banner for a lot of the game and started slowly, but was pretty after quarter time and finished with 17 touches and a goal. He tended to be caught a bit outside of the play at times and we want to see his hunger for the ball increase. If he can win a bit more of it he’ll really start to press for League selection.
Mitch Curnow (for Double Blues v Bulldogs)
12 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 18 hit outs, 2 clearances
Mitch was very strong in the ruck contests and showed a lot more aggression than what we’ve seen and we were happy with how he performed. He didn’t get a lot of football around the ground, but that’s another area that he can switch his focus to if he starts performing consistently in the ruck.
Jarrad Irons (for Eagles v Redlegs)
16 disposals, 5 marks, 2 rebound 50s
Irons had a fantastic first two quarters playing half back again. He was really solid defensively with a few really good efforts pressing up, pushing over and helping out his teammates. In the second half his game wasn’t quite as tight and it would’ve been good to see him get a bit more of the footy but overall he was an important part of the Eagles’ win.
16 disposals, 5 marks, 2 rebound 50s
Irons had a fantastic first two quarters playing half back again. He was really solid defensively with a few really good efforts pressing up, pushing over and helping out his teammates. In the second half his game wasn’t quite as tight and it would’ve been good to see him get a bit more of the footy but overall he was an important part of the Eagles’ win.
