Charlie Dixon, Dan Houston, Mitch Georgiades all impress as Port Adelaide launches 2020 season with internal trial at Alberton Oval
Charlie Dixon’s super fit, Dan Houston’s at home as a midfielder and a Port youngster looks certain to debut in Round 1. Here are our 15 takeaways from the Power’s internal trial.
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First-year tall forward Mitch Georgiades looks on track for a round-one debut after an impressive showing in Port Adelaide’s internal trial on Friday night.
The West Australian started well and got better, flying courageously into marking contests and either plucking grabs or bringing the ball to ground for roving teammates.
His second efforts and ability to compete in the air also stood out, as last year’s No.18 draft pick showed no signs of a player who had missed all of 2019 with a thigh injury.
Fellow top-25 selections Miles Bergman (pick 14) and Dylan Williams (23) also had nice moments.
Playing as a high half-forward, Bergman did not gain much of the footy but when he got it, he used it well, while Williams kicked two goals to half-time, including a nice left-foot snap.
Those two were quieter during the second half, although Williams added another major.
Last year, first-round draftees Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma used the summer to push their cases and then not only debuted in Round 1, but played a total of 61 of a possible 66 games.
Twelve months on, after the club’s first competitive hit-out of 2020, Georgiades looks likely to play in the March 21 season-opener against Gold Coast, Bergman will probably be in the mix and Power selectors may have to ponder a shot for Williams too early in the season.
Other highlights included Dan Houston finding plenty of the ball and playing well as a midfielder, and Dixon impressing and looking like he was over his injury troubles.
Ollie Wines (shoulder) and Jackson Mead (hamstring) were the only absentees on the night.
The Advertiser’s other key take-outs from the game were:
■ Veteran Justin Westhoff looked at home playing at centre half-back. He stood recruit Wylie Buzza for long periods and would make the right call whether to mark or spoil. Westhoff has been used down back at times, including in several games last year, and late-match cameos when Port is trying to stem the opposition, but this looks more permanent – at least for now. He also rucked in spurts.
■ After training with the rehabilitation group earlier in pre-season, Jack Watts returned to the field and was on a half-back flank, where he played in last year’s opening two rounds before succumbing to a season-ending leg injury. Port could use his neat kicking.
■ Houston moved from half-back flanker to midfielder midway through last season and looked Port’s best on-baller on Friday night, winning lots of clearances and using his skills in traffic.
■ Brad Ebert was not only back spending some time in the midfield but running around without the helmet he wore last year due to concussion issues.
■ Dixon charged at the ball all game but stopped on one particular occasion – when he had the chance to crash into Zak Butters. Butters jumped to mark a floated Travis Boak pass in front of Dixon and the hulking forward could have crunched his second-year teammate. If Dixon did, he might have hurt him, but instead he held back.
■ It is early days but Butters looks as though he is ready to take the next step in his development this season. He played mainly as a high half-forward and on a wing and disposed of the ball well.
■ The second half appeared to be a case of mostly AFL players in black versus Magpies players in white. White had led at half-time before some key players switched to the black side. Georgiades wore black, suggesting he would be in the AFL side if round one was next week.
■ Scott Lycett versus Peter Ladhams was a relatively even battle and post-game senior assistant coach Michael Voss said playing them together was definitely a consideration.
■ Father-son draftee Trent Burgoyne bobbed up late to slot a nice set-shot goal from the pocket.
■ Rookie defender Jake Pasini got a taste of what was ahead at AFL level, lining up on Dixon for periods of the second half.
■ Hamish Hartlett and Todd Marshall have been training away from the main group for much of pre-season but both were out there and got a bit of the footy, although their playing time was managed.
■ Duursma was cut open from a head clash and spent time on the bench in the last quarter. That was the only thing resembling an injury that had been reported immediately after the match.
■ It might have been an internal trial but there was at least one spy in the house. Crows assistant Marty Mattner watched the match from the grandstand.