Port Adelaide AFL news: Miles Bergman to make Round 1 debut against North Melbourne
Former Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff will start as the medical sub in Round 1 after missing out on a spot in Port Adelaide’s best 22. See all the teams news.
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Tom Rockliff has been left out of Port Adelaide’s 22 for its season opener against North Melbourne.
The Power star, and former Brisbane captain, has been named as an emergency and will be Port’s medical substitute when they take on the Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The prolific ball-winning midfielder played a half in the Power’s big AAMI Community Series win over Adelaide, and was in the club’s second group during training this week.
Willem Drew will play his first game in well over a year in the midfield instead, after overcoming foot injuries that had him fearing for his career.
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The Power will have three debutants with Miles Bergman to play his first game of AFL footy, while Aliir Aliir and Orazio Fantasia will pull on Port Adelaide jumpers for the first time for premiership points.
Hinkley said Bergman, who did not play in 2020 after being the Power’s top draft pick in 2019, was getting the reward for the culmination of consistent hard work.
“We always thought there was a real potential that he could play a wing and half-forward, but he also had some weapons that we thought could suit our backline,” Hinkley said.
“We were pretty optimistic that he would make his debut at half-back and it is good that the makes his first start in a position he has been training for.”
Hinkley said Lachie Jones, the Power’s top pick from the 2020 draft, was close to making his AFL debut but still had some work to go.
His wait might have to go on a bit longer, with Jones only managing a half for Port’s SANFL side against Sturt on Friday night.
“He was very close but it is his first year at our footy club and he is learning a lot about our game. He is almost ready to play AFL football,” Hinkley said.
“We are really excited but it won’t be in Round 1.
“He pulled up a little sore so he will be assessed. There would be some risk on him not being available for next week.”
The Power will kick off a campaign many are expecting to be a successful one for them, after getting through to the preliminary final in 2020.
Hinkley said he wasn’t concerned about the new respect the Power had earnt in 2020.
“Credibility is not an issue for us,” he said..
“It is more about what we expect of ourselves. We expect to play consistent football, week in, week out.
“Last year, went someway to proving we are capable of that. But ultimately we did not get to where we wanted to go.”
Earlier, Ken Hinkley confirmed Bergman will make his debut for Port Adelaide, while Lachie Jones might have suffered a hamstring injury in the SANFL.
The Power’s top draft pick from 2019 did not get a taste of action last year as he learnt a new role at half-back.
But after a strong 2021 pre-season, he has broken into Port’s strong side for Round 1.
He will make his debut for the club alongside new recruits Orazio Fantasia and Aliir Aliir against North Melbourne on Sunday, and Hinkley said it was the culmination of consistent hard work for Bergman.
“We always thought there was a real potential that he could play a wing and half forward but he also had some weapons that we thought could suit our backline,” Hinkley said.
“We were pretty optimistic that he would make his debut at half-back and it is good that he makes his first start in a position he has been training for.”
Hinkley revealed that Jones, the Power’s top pick from last year’s draft, was close to making his AFL debut but still has some work to do.
And the wait might have to go on a bit longer with Jones only managing a half for Port’s SANFL side against Sturt on Friday night.
“He was very close but it is his first year at our footy club and he is learning a lot about our game. He is almost ready to play AFL football,” Hinkley said.
“We are really excited but it won’t be in Round 1.
“He pulled up a little sore so he will be assessed. There would be some risk on him not being available for next week.”
The Power will take 24 with them to Melbourne, with their medical sub and travelling emergency to be determined on Sunday.
Veteran midfielder Tom Rockliff might be in one of those positions with Hinkley confirming Willem Drew was likely to play after an injury plagued 2020.
HARTLETT ON BERGMAN’S DEBUT
Port Adelaide vice-captain Hamish Hartlett says Miles Bergman is a “very strong chance” to debut, after he ruled himself out of the Power’s season opener against North Melbourne.
The Power have until Saturday evening to name their side for the Sunday clash but Hartlett said he would not be playing against the Kangaroos following a battle with a “minor niggle” with his hamstring.
“This has meant I haven’t been able to train too much,” he said on FIVEaa.
“I’m going to give this week a miss on the back of that.”
This looks set to open up the door for Bergman, the club’s top pick in the 2019 Draft, to make his AFL debut.
“It certainly does,” Hartlett said.
“There is a very strong chance to see Miles I think in the backline crew which is super-exciting.
“He has some real excitement about his game.”
Bergman was on the stronger black side during Port’s Thursday training session, in a potential early selection hint from Ken Hinkley.
Highly-rated youngster Lachie Jones was in the white group, along with Hartlett, veteran midfielder Tom Rockliff and surprisingly Xavier Duursma.
Drafted with the 14th pick in 2019, Bergman came to the Power from the Sandringham Dragons as a medium midfielder/forward.
An ankle injury on the eve of the 2020 pre-season matches meant Bergman did not get an early chance to join the youth-led revolution at the Power.
And when he did recover from this knock, the Power said they wanted him to become a defender and able to play on the wing with Bergman studying footage of his new role during the COVID-19 shutdown period.
No SANFL games for the Power-listed players meant Bergman couldn’t press his case at lower level, but he was named as an emergency on several occasions for Port in 2020.
In this pre-season Bergman has impressed in Port Adelaide’s new plan of players having multiple positions they can play in – taking part in the Power’s two matches against the Crows.
Development coach Tyson Goldsack told The Advertiser fans would love the look of Bergman when he runs out for the Power.
“He has some unbelievable physical attributes. You look at him run and it is like watching a thoroughbred racehorse if you will,” he said.
“He’s a great kick and good in the air but there’s just a couple of things that he has to sharpen up whether it is cleanliness at ground ball, buffering pressure and just learning the way that we want to play.”
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