‘Big Show’ Billy Frampton gives contract stocks a boost with top effort against Port Adelaide
The player Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley calls ‘Big Show’ proved his worth against Gold Coast — and is now seeking a new contract.
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Port Adelaide is poised to ramp up contract negotiations with Billy Frampton — the 200cm key forward who coach Ken Hinkley has labelled “Big Show’’ — following his breakout performance against Gold Coast on Sunday.
In a standout, three-goal display in the wet which was five years in the making, Frampton, who plays like injured attacking powerhouse Charlie Dixon, illustrated why the Power has been so patient with him.
The 22-year-old was one of eight young players with less than 10 games experience who came to the injury-hit Power’s rescue against the Suns.
And he made such a statement in just his second AFL match that rival clubs would have stood up and taken notice.
Frampton — drafted with bottom-end pick 84 at the 2014 national draft from WAFL club South Fremantle — is out of contract at the end of the season and admitted negotiations with Port over a new deal had been “pretty bare’’.
But he wants to stay with the Alberton-based club after spending the off-season working solely on his forward craft after previously playing the dual role of ruck/forward.
“I would like to stay here because I love the club that much — and all the boys,’’ Frampton
told The Advertiser after his eye-catching three-goal, 14-disposal effort against the Suns.
“It’s my second family. I’ve been here five years now, so I’m nestled in very nicely.
“I haven’t talked to anyone about my contract yet. I’ve just got to keep playing good footy week after week, in the SANFL or the AFL, and just see what happens.
“But I do want to stay.’’
Blond bomber Frampton, who kicked one goal and took four contested marks in his only previous AFL match in a loss to Essendon at Adelaide Oval in round 23 last season, has made major strides as a player since focusing on his forward line play following a chat with Hinkley at the end of last year.
An elite kick for goal, Frampton bagged nine majors in consecutive SANFL games before being promoted against Gold Coast.
“It’s the last year of my contract and at the end of last year me and Kenny had the same idea, that we’d give it a crack up forward and see what happens,’’ Frampton said.
“I don't think I’m really big enough to contest with the big AFL rucks. I can compete in there but not in the No. 1 capacity.
“But I think I’ve got the tools to play forward. I played all my junior footy there and believe I’ve got enough know-how of the game and enough physical attributes to know how to do it.
“I spent the whole pre-season up forward, working on my leading patterns, contested marking — jumping at the footy is one of my strengths — and just where I needed to be as a forward instead of that ruck-forward.
“It was pleasing that it all came together against Gold Coast. It felt pretty good that I was able to play a part in the win and I can’t stress how happy I am, it was an amazing feeling.’’
Frampton said there had been times in his Port career, particularly after waiting four years to make his AFL debut, that. he felt he was treading water.
“100 per cent,’’ he said.
“I played my first game in the last round of my fourth year, so there was plenty of times, especially last year, where I wasn’t where I wanted to be.
“It was a pretty up and down sort of rollercoaster but just sticking at it and controlling what I can control got me there in the end.’’
Frampton, who revealed Hinkley called him “Big Show’’, said he had always been a reliable kick at goal because as a kid — well before he grew so tall — he was a midfielder who “wanted to be like (Crows great) Andrew McLeod and hit targets’’.
“My kicking has always been one of my strengths and it’s coming to the fore a bit now,’’ he said.
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