AS A KID Port Adelaide rookie Jesse Laurie could run rings around the opposition.

Laurie, 18, grew up playing football on the vast ovals of country Western Australia and his superior work rate and fitness saw him notch up several high possession games for Claremont in the WAFL.

Laurie’s shuttle-run score of 15.2 set at last year’s state screening session blitzed the best level reached at the 2008 NAB AFL Draft Camp in Canberra (14.6) and got him over the line on draft day.

Ironically, the running defender has since discovered that his biggest strength is also his achilles heel when it comes to cutting it at AFL level.

“I probably run to the wrong spots too much,” Laurie told portadelaidefc.com.au.

“[Development coaches] Darren Trevena and Stewie Cochrane want me to hold my run and run to the right places.

“It’s a good point and when I watch my tape I always end up saying, ‘you got me again’.”

Laurie has worked closely with Trevena, Cochrane and his ‘unofficial’ mentor Alipate Carlile to improve the deficiencies of his game.

In round nine, the hard work paid off when Laurie, who models his game on teammate Jacob Surjan, was rewarded with his SANFL league debut for West Adelaide.

“I got told on the Friday night before the game, so I didn’t really have much time to prepare for it, but it was good to be thrown into the mix,” Laurie said.

“Now I want to try and cement a spot in the Westies’ league side. I’ve worked really hard to try and get better each week and the coaches there have noticed that and given me a chance.”

Laurie lives with a host family with first-year big man and good mate Jarrad Redden and has had to adjust his game to suit the South Australian style of football.

“The SANFL has a lot more stoppages. I think it’s a better competition over here,” he said.

“There’s more jostling and pushing and shoving in the SANFL. My main strength is my running so I’ve got to try and use it, but on the smaller grounds it hurts me a bit.”

Laurie represented WA at U16 and U18 level and worked his way through the colts system at Claremont, including one demanding year in the seniors.

“My first year at Claremont was a bit muddled because I was still living in Denmark [450km south-west of Perth] and had to travel up to Perth twice a week,” Laurie said.

“It involved a lot of driving because it’s about four-and-a-half hours each way from Claremont to Denmark. I’d go to school until lunchtime, drive to Claremont, train until 7:30pm, drive back and then go to school the next day.

“It wasn’t the best, but I had to do it.”

Laurie received a letter from Port Adelaide several months out from the draft, but was still surprised to hear his name called with the club’s final pick (No.63) in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.

“About five minutes before the start of the rookie draft, I got a call from [recruiting manager] Blair Hartley asking how I felt about moving to Port Adelaide,” Laurie said.

“I told him I thought it would be fantastic and it went from there.”