Development coach Geoff Morris could be Power’s No. 1 recruit of the AFL off-season
Port Adelaide intends to build the AFL’s best under-23 squad in the next two years. One man who rejoined the Power last month has a big role to play in realising that vision, writes Michelangelo Rucci.
Michelangelo Rucci
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In his eventful chapters as an AFL club recruiting manager, James Fantasia on the eve of a national draft wisely noted the reality of building a premiership contender via Australian football’s young talent lottery.
Recruiting managers find the new hope every AFL team needs in the off season.
But it is coaches - as mentors, not strategists - who have to nurture the dreams of the new batch of teenagers seeking fame and fortune in Australia’s premier football competition.
Talent alone is not enough.
The proof to Fantasia’s theme is in recalling how Melbourne struggles to convert so many early first-round draftees into an AFL premiership challenger because of a stunted development program.
By contrast, the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs - with no access to a No. 1 draft call after their establishment years in the 1990s - both fielded consistently competitive football squads because of their programs at West Lakes and Alberton.
Two men - one at both the Crows and Power - earned credit for their critical work behind the scenes as development coaches: Alan Stewart and Geoff Morris.
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Stewart went from Port Adelaide’s recruiting staff after the breakthrough 2004 AFL premiership to be a vital part of the Crows set-up, although he was foolishly ignored too often late in his tenure at West Lakes where his sage notes stand the test of time.
Morris went from Port Adelaide to Hawthorn in 2006 when Alastair Clarkson picked off several Power staffers to build his empire.
He served in both development and recruiting roles.
After 13 years - and tiring of the travel - Morris returns to Alberton.
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His comeback is timely at a football club that is determined to build the AFL’s best under-23 squad in the next two years.
As Fantasia would say, Port Adelaide’s recruiting staff can pick ‘em … but now someone has to make these teenagers shine.
Morris’ return to Alberton this week is one of the most important - if not the No. 1 - off-season deal struck by Power football chief Chris Davies.
At 65, Morris is one of those rare men who - by his measured ways and solid understanding of people - will not ignore needs of the individual where others might fall for the stereotypes that are attached to Generation X, Y, Z and Millennials.
Morris is the man every Port Adelaide draftee will want by his side, more so when expectations will rise on the new batch of recruits charged with lifting the Power from no-man’s land of repetitive ninth and 10th placings.
Morris pretty much walked the AFL draftee path before it existed with grand support systems. He went from the country to the city to make his name at West Adelaide.
He played 220 SANFL league games (1973-86), won a hard-earned flag in 1983 and was an All-Australian in 1979.
He also coached West Adelaide in 1994-95 and then started his impressive AFL resume when Port Adelaide was building the foundations to its 2004 flag.
Fantasia’s note on recruiting managers offering the AFL path to draftees and development coaches making the dreams come true for player and club resonates louder today.
In Morris, Port Adelaide has a man who - like Stewart - has the golden touch … and some extra gold from his time at Hawthorn.
The Hawks’ blueprint might just get a re-run at Alberton.