Port Adelaide news: Miles Bergman dominates in win over GWS
The young stars of the Power have stolen the headlines all year understandably, but another young gun at Ken Hinkley’s disposal could give them the edge coming into September.
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Ken Hinkley reckons Miles Bergman is a “really incredible talent”.
Against GWS the Port Adelaide young gun showed off some of the strings that he has on his extremely exciting bow.
And there could be more in store if Bergman has his way.
After missing the Power’s loss to Geelong through illness Bergman was back in the side for the clash the against Giants at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
He was also back on the wing, a position he played in 2021 and 2022, after winning rave reviews as a defender for the Power this year.
And in a barnstorming start by the Power, Bergman produced definitely his best quarter of footy and one of the more impressive you could have from off a wing.
By quarter time Bergman had 11 disposals, three goals, three marks and two tackles in a career best.
“Yeah probably (the best quarter of footy he has played) I think we all started off as a team really well, just the way we wanted to play,” he said.
“Fast, aggressive footy, forcing turnovers and just made the most of our goalkicking.”
The Power blew the Giants away in the first term, and Bergman was at the centre of it on the wing.
He said he enjoyed returning to the wing.
“Just something different, I played a lot of wing last year and the year before that and played quite a bit back this year,” he said.
“So just changing things up, keeping things fresh and giving a few other boys a run down back.
“I was sick as well last week so just to have a bit of a run around and having the legs tick over again was good but it was tiring.”
While he was quiet after the incredible first term, it showed the talent that Bergman has – and why the Power rate him so highly.
His second, off a few steps from 50m, was a sharp piece of play and later on in the term he gave a glimpse of why Hinkley calls him “Hulk” with a big tackle on the Giants’ Harry Himmelberg that had the Power fans on their feet.
So will this be a move the Power look at deploying towards the end of this season or even longer term?
Hinkley said he didn’t know yet, and that was the exciting thing with the 21-year-old.
“We think Miles is a really incredible talent and he has a future and I’m not quite sure what position it is in,” he said.
“When we get our backs back together it allows us to be a bit more free as to where we play Miles.
“I don’t know where he ends up, I think he could be anywhere to be honest as a footballer.
“I think the growth in him is exciting, where that ends I’m not sure.”
At 189cm and 86kg, Bergman has played on both taller and smaller opponents while being a defender – most notably manning Jeremy Cameron when the Power took on Geelong at Adelaide Oval.
While as a wingman he has shown a good ability to be able to get up and down the ground, and on Sunday demonstrated his ability to make an impact on the scoreboard.
But if things go his way, Bergman would like to have a move a bit more centrally.
“I’d love to play inside one day, I think everyone’s dream is that as a little kid that is where you want to play,” he said.
“But we have such a strong midfield so we will see how that goes, maybe in the future. I’m just enjoying playing with this bunch of boys.
“I’m sure we will have a discussion over the off-season and maybe in pre-season I have a bit of a go in there but for now we will focus on winning.
“I would love to get in there at some stage.”
Bergman has been seen as a player who could go into the midfield for the Power eventually.
As exciting as a prospect that could be, right now the Power’s on ball brigade is going quite nicely.
Against the Giants Zak Butters had the 34 disposals and Connor Rozee 29.
But the positives for the Power came from who have been the supporting cast in recent weeks.
Now moving a lot more freely after dealing with a back injury Jason Horne-Francis had the best game of his career when it came to stats with 27 disposals and three goals.
Adelaide board member Mark Ricciuto said on Fox Footy the former No. 1 pick could be a big asset for the Power come September in this kind of form.
“If Jason Horne-Francis can play some great footy … he’s had a sore back over the last month or two but he looks like he’s moving freer … he was electric through that midfield,” he said.
“His speed, on top of what Rozee and Butters can do, is absolutely unstoppable.
“If he can be consistently good from here on in and just couple up with Butters, Rozee, (Ollie) Wines, Willem Drew, it’ll be a lethal midfield come September.”
But the real positive for the Power was Ollie Wines’ game against the Giants.
While he has had to play different roles, which have limited his output in 2023 at times, the Power vice-captain’s 29 disposals and a goal was his best return since Round 1 against Brisbane.
Hinkley said he thought the 2021 Brownlow Medallist was back to near his best form.
“I thought Ollie was back to somewhere near his absolute best, which is something that we have been waiting for,” he said.
“I was as positive about Ollie as anyone.
“Getting a Brownlow Medallist back in form at his best is a big boost.
“He is a leader at this club and he will continue to grow from here.”
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