No guarantees but Jackson Mead wants to join Port Adelaide’s father-son production line
Top Port Adelaide father-son prospect Jackson Mead says the club is playing its cards close to its chest and not making any promises about making him a Power player next month.
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Top Port Adelaide father-son prospect Jackson Mead says the club is playing its cards close to its chest and not making any promises about making him a Power player next month.
Mead — in Melbourne for the AFL draft combine — met with Port officials on Wednesday but said they had not guaranteed drafting him, although this appears likely.
“There’s no promises,’’ Mead said.
“It was my first formal meeting with them and they didn't give too much away, it was more of a general conversation.
“I know it's a possibility to go there and I hope to have a more formal chat with them after the trade period but at this stage I haven't been given any guarantees.’’
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All-Australian under-18 midfielder Mead — the son of triple Port SANFL premiership defender and inaugural Power club champion Darren Mead — is in line to become just the Power’s second father-son player.
Brett Ebert — the son of four-times Magarey Medallist Russell Ebert — became the first in 2002, going on to win the 2003 Magarey Medal and kick 240 goals (the sixth-most in Power history) in 166 games from 2004-12.
Port also has access to another father-son prospect this year, Trent Burgoyne, the son of 240-game star and 2004 premiership player Peter Burgoyne.
He will test at the SA Draft Combine on October 12 and is slated to go late in the draft or as a rookie.
Mead, 18 and strongly-built at 184cm and 83kg, is the blue-chip prospect.
A member of Port’s father/son academy, he was best afield in last year’s under-18 SANFL grand final, kicking four goals from 21 disposals, and shone at this year’s AFL under-18 championships.
His averages of 21.2 disposals, three clearances and five tackles earnt him All-Australian honours.
Mead, who played two league games for Woodville-West Torrens in rounds 14 and 16, said it would be a dream come true to play for the team he grew up supporting.
But his main aim is to just find an AFL home.
“Dad has that connection with Port so it would be nice to follow in his footsteps but if I end up at another club I’ll still be stoked because I just want to play AFL, it’s something I've worked hard towards for a long time,’’ Mead said.
Mead, who models his game on Brownlow Medallists Dustin Martin and Nathan Fyfe, is likely to attract a second-round pick at next month’s draft.
Under AFL rules, the Power — once it nominates Mead as a father-son prospect — can match a rival bid on points.
This is one of the reasons it has stockpiled late 2019 draft picks.
Port currently has selections 10, 29, 63, 64, 65, 68 and 83 but this will change in the trade period.
The Power will be compensated for losing ruckman Paddy Ryder to St Kilda, small forward Sam Gray, most likely to the Saints, and forward Billy Frampton to Adelaide.
It will have to pay a reasonable price to bring Essendon forward Orazio Fantasia back home but any deal is likely to include a swap for tall swingman Dougal Howard.
SA under-18 coach Tony Bamford is certain Port will match a bid for Mead, describing him as “a very good player’’.
“He’s a midfielder who has really good ability to go forward, mark and convert in front of goal,’’ he said.
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“I’d say he’s as good a forward as he is a midfielder. He wins first possession, has a big, strong body inside and understands the game really well.
“He’s fiercely determined, strong in the contest, has safe hands, tackles hard and is just a really solid player.’’
Mead said his dad had been a strong influence on his career.
“Without a doubt he’s been the best person for me in my football journey so far,’’ he said.
“Whether it was from a young age coaching me or in recent years giving feedback about my game, he’s been absolutely amazing for me and my brother Mitchell (who plays at the Magpies).’’