How Port Adelaide forced ruckman Peter Ladhams to work on a building site after missed training session
Revealed: The unusual internal penalty Port Adelaide handed to emerging ruckman Peter Ladhams after arriving late for a training session — and how it helped his development.
Port Adelaide has revealed it sent emerging ruckman Peter Ladhams to work on a building site for 10 days early this year in a bid to save his AFL career.
Ruck coach Dean Brogan said the rookie-listed big man, who signed a three-year contract extension two weeks ago after being courted by a host of rivals, was taken out of training and sent to work after he arrived late for a pre-season training session when his alarm clock failed to go off.
“He’s had his challenges,’’ Brogan said of the 21-year-old who is keeping West Coast premiership ruckman and highly-paid free agent Scott Lycett out of the Power side.
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“At the start of the year he had a hiccup. He rocked up late to training, there was a bit of that going on.
“Kenny (coach Ken Hinkley) said, ‘mate, you need to go out’, I think he went to a building site for 10 days, just to realise the opportunity that he had, and it’s been the best thing for him.
“He was there working from 7am until 5pm, he was training away from the club.
“I can’t speak for what happened in the past but he had a bit of that in him, where he was a bit lackadaisical at training or would rock up late.
“We all know if you do that too often, the club, the leadership group, are going to come down hard on you.
“So I think from a leadership point of view, Kenny and the coaching staff just wanted to give him a bit of a reality check.
“And it probably should happen more often if you’re going to get a response like that.
“He’s just been sensational since, it was a good thing for him to go and do that, because he’s come back a better person and a better player and hopefully we’ve got a player of the future for a long time.’’
Ladhams, who had spent two seasons on Port’s rookie list prior to this year without playing an AFL game, returned from his on-site work with a new attitude and work ethic, starred in the SANFL and made his AFL debut against Hawthorn in Tasmania in round 10.
He was sent back to the local league before playing against the Western Bulldogs in round 15 and Essendon and Sydney in rounds 20 and 21.
Ladhams’ form was so strong against the Bombers and Swans (averaging 20 disposals, 20 hit-outs and seven clearances), he has kept Lycett out of the side, partnering veteran All-Australian Paddy Ryder.
“It’s a really good story,’’ Brogan told ABC SA Grandstand of the 202cm Ladhams.
“When I first got to the club (at the end of last year) and found out who I was going to be working with I heard a lot of things that he’s not good at and what issues he’s got.
“I said ‘what can he do’, and there was never any question that he’s got a massive tank, he can run all day, he's a highly-skilled big man and he’s a lefty and lefties are always awkward (to play against) as ruckmen, they’ve got something unique about them.
“So I was really excited to work with him and it’s a credit to him this year because players have to make decisions with what they want to do and he’s been absolutely sensational.’’