Port Adelaide’s Jarrod Lienert ready for SANFL finals challenge against former Sturt team-mates
Port Adelaide’s Jarrod Lienert has found himself a home in defence after having a huge impact on the wing for Sturt in its rise to premiership glory last year.
THIS time last year Jarrod Lienert was on the verge of a month of football which would redefine his career.
His season had been productive, earning the SANFL Star Search award, but it was his highly influential run on the wing and penetrating kick which were damaging weapons for Sturt in its triumphant march to the premiership.
There was no more pronounced moment for Lienert than late in the third quarter of the grand final against Woodville-West Torrens when he nailed a goal from 50m near the boundary. It was the six points which all but sealed the flag victory.
Such was his form, the Double Blues’ late bloomer had AFL clubs mentioning his name as a mature-age recruit. And it was Port Adelaide who took the punt on Lienert, picking him up in the rookie draft as a 22-year old and providing him with a one-deal deal.
Lienert will on Saturday kick off another SANFL finals campaign at Adelaide Oval, only this season he is wearing the Magpies jumper and the opponent is the Double Blues in the qualifying final.
It is a scenario in which he feels comfortable and he eagerly awaits the challenge fronting his premiership mates. Although he does admit the transition had its difficulties, given his dad Brett played 134-games for the Double Blues and he had followed the Unley club all his life.
“In pre-season I had to get the balance right mingling with my new team-mates at Port and seeing the Sturt guys and not cutting ties,” Lienert said. “I’d supported the Doubles Blues all my life and love the club.
“It was hard early and when we beat them they were 0-4 and I was very sympathetic.
“But I’ve definitely brought into the Port Adelaide culture and in the second game against them they beat us at Unley, I was very upset to lose.
“I copped a fair bit as well. It was all friendly banter but I was not too happy at the time when they were giving me some words of advice.”
Lienert admits he had little expectation when he moved his game to Alberton and from day one his attitude was to give his all.
He was told to forget about playing on the wing, his time at Port would be in defence. He embraced the change and he describes his form down back as a key defensive player as solid.
As for next season, Lienert has yet to have serious chats with Port although his prediction is he will be offered another rookie contract. His confidence in receiving a new deal was boosted significantly last week when he was upgraded to the senior list.
“Hopefully it will happen at the end of the year, but more than likely I’ll get another rookie contract,” Lienert said.
“If I got upgraded to play AFL next year that would be the ultimate, to get consistent AFL games is the dream.
“The upgrading last week has given me confidence on where they see me. But I’m not thinking about another contract, I will try my hardest regardless and make the most of any opportunity.”
Lienert’s immediate focus is on shutting down his former Double Blues teammates.
“It will be a good challenge, they are in pretty good nick and we are going well,” Lienert said.
QUALIFYING FINAL
Port Adelaide v Sturt
Adelaide Oval, 3.10pm Saturday
TV: Channel 7
Port Adelaide
F: J. Impey 24, J. Trengove 12, B. Ah Chee 41
HF: J. Atley 30, B. Eddy 27, B. Monfries 6
C: M. White, A. Young 11, S. Summerton 1
HB: W. Snelling 34, J. Lienert 40, W. Drew 28
B: M. Broadbent 5, L. Austin 25, J. Toumpas 18
1R: M. Lobbe 23, J. Palmer 37, L. Sharrad 7
Int: C. Hewett 44, E. Irra 45, R. Young 50, T. Gray 5, N. Rudloff 4.
Sturt
F: J. Osborn 30, K. Beard 16, J. Dodd 38
HF: M. Evans 14, J. Sutcliffe 12, J. Hone 5
C: S. Slimming 39, J. Battersby 23, M. Crocker 41
HB: S. Colquhoun 20, J. Stephens 8, B. Sumner 10
B: G. Page 25, F. Evans 7, R. Gilfoy 31
1R: T. Read 35, Z. Kirkwood 9, P. Wilson 13
Int: A. Riley 43, T. Harms 19, S. McMahon 15, B. Hansen 6, H. Voigt 29