Emerging ruckman Peter Ladhams shows why Port Adelaide is letting Paddy Ryder walk from Alberton
Emerging ruckman Peter Ladhams has shown once again why Port Adelaide rates him so highly after playing a starring role in the Magpies’ SANFL qualifying final win.
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If Port Adelaide fans wanted evidence why the club allowed Paddy Ryder to seek opportunities elsewhere next season, they only had to watch emerging ruckman Peter Ladhams in the qualifying final on Saturday night.
Ladhams starred in the Magpies’ 30-point qualifying final win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval, registering 23 disposals, six clearances, 23 hit-outs and two goals, including a brilliant one on the run at the northern end.
No doubt he was helped by Adelaide’s ruck combination being key forwards Elliott Himmelberg and Darcy Fogarty due to Kieran Strachan and Paul Hunter’s unavailability.
But it was the type of performance Ladhams has been producing in the SANFL all season, only on a bigger stage.
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From 15 matches in 2019, the 21-year-old Norwood product has averaged 19.9 disposals, 5.6 clearances and kicked 17 goals, all while competing with the Magpies’ other giants Sam Hayes, Billy Frampton and sometimes Ryder for time in the ruck.
Ladhams finds plenty of the ball, follows up from contest to contest, has a nice burst of pace, and plays differently to out-of-contract All-Australian Ryder, who does not get as much of the footy but is a brilliant tap man and handy forward target.
The dropping of West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett last month raised eyebrows but Power coach Ken Hinkley was adamant Ladhams’ Magpies form was too hard to ignore and his growth in 2019 was enough for Port to let 31-year-old Ryder move to a rival with its blessing.
Ladhams, who was rookie-listed at the end of 2016 before debuting this year, finished with five games for the Power and while he did not reproduce his SANFL form, there were promising signs.
He notched up 18 disposals, seven clearances and 22 hit-outs in Port’s away win over Essendon in round 20 then backed it up with 23 touches, seven clearances and 19 hit-outs in the home victory against Sydney the following week.
What Ladhams needs to improve – and has been Ryder’s strength during a 13-year career – is his ruck craft.
Ladhams looked comfortable against Essendon’s Zac Clarke and Sydney’s makeshift ruck duo Hayden McLean and Aliir Aliir but North Melbourne star Todd Goldstein taught him a lesson both on the ball and around the ground in the Kangaroos’ 86-point thumping of the Power at Marvel Stadium in round 23.
That loss was costly for Port, which missed the finals by one win, but it should be a helpful learning experience for Ladhams.
If, as expected, Ryder switches clubs during next month’s trade period, Ladhams will move higher in the Power pecking order heading into pre-season.
Hinkley has shown he will reward SANFL form with AFL opportunities, so if Ladhams can continue to produce similar showings to Saturday night, as the Magpies make a premiership run, he may overtake Lycett as Port’s number one ruckman in 2020.