Port Adelaide has announced new contracts for young guns Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Xavier Duursma, Joel Garner and Jake Patmore
Port Adelaide has announced five of its hottest young prospects have signed contract extensions, while there is some welcome injury news following its big Showdown win.
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Port Adelaide has rewarded its exciting trio of 2018 first round draftees with contract extensions, along with two of its other hot young prospects.
As foreshadowed by The Advertiser in April, the Power announced on Tuesday morning it had locked in top-20 draft picks Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma for two more years, tying them to the club until the end of 2022.
Defender Joel Garner, who made his debut against the Gold Coast in Round 9, has also agreed to terms for another two seasons, keeping him at the club until the end of 2021, while midfielder Jake Patmore, who is yet to play an AFL game after rupturing his ACL during a preseason match, has agreed to a one-year contract extension.
“It is pleasing to have five outstanding young men commit their future to the Port Adelaide Football Club,” Power football general manager Chris Davies said.
“In just their first or second years at the club, they have demonstrated incredible professionalism and a want to improve, in line with the development we expected when we drafted them.”
Earlier on Tuesday Port coach Ken Hinkley trumpeted the imminent “positive” announcement for the club.
“We’re grateful that they’re seeing fit to want to stick around,” Hinkley told SEN SA Breakfast.
“Those three and other blokes that have played this year — we’ve debuted six players — we’ve had some great results with.
“We hope it continues, because we need it to continue.”
SA-born pick five Rozee had featured in all 15 of the Power’s matches this year, kicking 20 goals and averaging 15 disposals per game.
Teenage Victorians Butters (pick 12) and Duursma (18) had averaged 15 and 19 possessions respectively, missing just one match between them.
The re-signings were more good news for Power fans, three days on from the club’s Showdown victory over Adelaide.
Hinkley said the 57-point success, which lifted Port above its cross-town rival into seventh on the ladder, demonstrated his team’s capabilities.
“We felt like the game was going OK at half-time, even though the Crows had a few more scoring shots,” said Hinkley, after his side had led by just two at the main break.
“In the first quarter in particular, we got our kick-in stuff a little bit wrong and we kept giving them some repeat entries.
“They didn’t really have a lot of easy shots — there was one or two.
“But the second quarter I thought we were playing pretty solid football.
“The challenge was to come out … and do it after half-time.
“It was a pretty dominant performance.
“That’s a real credit to the team and the connection of the team that it’s stuck together pretty well.
“We get the other questions about not doing it consistency, but we also understand that when we do it right, we’re pretty hard to beat.”
Hinkley cleared Scott Lycett of serious knee damage, after he picked up a knock in the Showdown success.
The ruckman had scans on Monday and was expected to be fit for this Sunday’s Adelaide Oval clash with Brisbane.
Hinkley said midfielder Travis Boak was also expected to line-up against the fourth-ranked Lions, having been a late withdrawal on the weekend due to back spasms.
“We played them (Brisbane) earlier this year and it was a cracking game,” said the Power mentor, who suffered a 17-point loss in Brisbane in round three.
“We were right in the game until three minutes to go (when) … they kicked two or three quick goals at the end.
“They’re probably again better than they were then I reckon and playing a more exciting brand (of football).
“They’ve got some belief and we all understand what belief does in teams who have been out of the way for a little while.
“Once you get on that run, they can be really hard work.
“It’ll be a cracking game and there will be two pretty good sides going at it.”