Port Adelaide flying machine Dom Barry making early selection case

PORT Adelaide flying machine Dom Barry is tearing up the track at Alberton, with senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks declaring he is the best runner he has seen.

IMPRESSIVE: Speedy recruit Dom Barry has been a pre-season standout for Port Adelaide. Picture: Calum Robertson.

PORT Adelaide flying machine Dom Barry is tearing up the track at Alberton, with senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks declaring he is the best runner he has seen.

The former Demon — selected at pick 61 at November’s AFL national draft from SANFL club Glenelg — has been so impressive that Nicks says he is making a strong early-season case to play in round one of the premiership season.

“He’s been outstanding, one of our real shining lights so far this pre-season,’’ Nicks said, saying he is looking forward to seeing what the left-footed midfielder can produce in the Power’s internal trial at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

“We love what he’s bringing and I haven't seen a guy run like he can.

“We are really keen to see how he goes when we get the good crowd out here on Saturday.’’

Barry, 23, played five games for Melbourne in 2014 after originally being drafted by GWS.

He represented Australia in the 2013 International Rules Series against Ireland before he had played an AFL game and started to consolidate his spot in the Demons side at the end of 2014 before sensationally quitting the AFL to return to Central Australia to focus on his family and cultural identity.

He joined Glenelg last year and starred in the local league, which led to Port giving him another chance in the AFL.

“He’s a really good kid and is just loving being back in it (the AFL),’’ Nicks said.

“He’s always asking questions and trying to learn and with Matty Lokan (Magpies SANFL coach) being here now he has the benefit of having had a year working under him at Glenelg (where he was senior coach).

“Dom’s moved straight into our system and fitted in really well with the group. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see him a lot earlier (at AFL level) than most people would probably have predicted.

“He’s already showing some stuff, some really exciting stuff, that is definitely worthy of being looked at in terms of getting a game early in the season.’’

Nicks said Barry would almost certainly be one of the players Port uses in next week’s AFLX tournament, noting “he will be perfect for that style of game because he runs at speed all day’’.

While Barry is flying, another recruit, former Kangaroo Lindsay Thomas, has struggled through the pre-season.

The 29-year-old small forward, who kicked an impressive 325 goals in 205 games for North Melbourne from 2007-17, has been on a modified training program since being rookie-listed by the Power in November.

“He’s been working through some soreness with his hamstring and lower back, which all connects up,’’ Nicks said.

“There’s nothing specific (injury-wise) we can poke a stick at so we're going easy with him just to make sure we get him right and ready to go when the games come around.’’

The Power’s biggest injury concerns are playmaking defender Matthew Broadbent (ankle) and wingman Jared Polec (hamstring).

Port hopes Polec will be fit for the start of the premiership season but Broadbent faces a delayed start to the campaign.