Port Adelaide top draft pick Connor Rozee impresses in intraclub match at Alberton

Young gun Connor Rozee has made an early case for a spot in Port Adelaide’s round one team with an eye-catching display in tonight’s intraclub match.

Andrew Capel

@andrewcapel

2 min read

February 15, 2019 - 7:51PM

Port’s top draft pick Connor Rozee looked the goods in the Power’s intraclub match. Picture: Tom Huntley

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Connor Rozee has made an early case for a spot in Port Adelaide’s round one team with an eye-catching display in last tonight’s intraclub match.

The Power’s top draft pick last year produced a dazzling first half which brought the Alberton Oval crowd to its feet as coach Ken Hinkley declared all three of his 2018 first-round draft selections — Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters are the others — could debut early in the season as the club looks for an injection of class and pace.

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Port’s top draft pick Connor Rozee looked the goods in the Power’s intraclub match. Picture: Tom Huntley

While exciting young key forward Todd Marshall looked the goods with two early goals, fourth-year defender Riley Bonner racked up disposals across halfback and veteran midfielder Brad Ebert (three goals) dominated in his new role in attack, much of the game’s early excitement centred around Rozee.

A SANFL league premiership with North Adelaide in September, the 19-year-old didn’t win a heap of the ball but he oozed class and made things happen when he got it.

Young key forward Todd Marshall puts the shackles on Darcy Byrne-Jones. Picture: Tom Huntley

Taken at No. 5 at the draft, he had a dominant first quarter where he showcased his class and athleticism in the midfield and up forward and while he tired in the second half he did enough to put his hand up for a spot in Port’s best 22.

Fellow first-round draft pick Duursma (No. 18) played well on a wing and Butters, drafted at No. 12, had his moments but needs to add some muscle to his small frame.

Port coach Ken Hinkley says rookies Zak Butters and Xavier Duursma could debut early in the season. Picture: AAP

“They can all go, they’ve all got some real speed and they get around the ground really well,’ Hinkley told FIVEaa.

“They are all exciting and have promising futures and I’d be surprised if they didn’t all play (AFL) early in the season.’’

Port’s confidence in Rozee was illustrated in it handing him the No. 20 jumper previously worn by dual All-Australian Chad Wingard, who was traded to Hawthorn.

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While the kids did their bit less than three months after being drafted, Marshall — who tragically lost both of his parents within six months last year — displayed good hands in front of goal and the left-footed Bonner won the ball with ease in the back half as the stronger white team thrashed the black side 12.5 (77) to 5.3 (33).

First-year Next Generation Academy rookie Kai Pudney stood out with his run and ballwinning ability.

Jack Watts directs traffic during the trial match. Picture: Tom Huntley

Of the key, established off-season recruits, West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett was solid rather than spectacular and former Hawk Ryan Burton struggled to make an impact in the midfield.

Jack Watts — who endured a troubled off-season — was trialled on a wing and won his share of the ball without looking damaging.

Ebert’s move forward did work as he booted three majors while applying plenty of forward pressure.

Big-bodied on-baller Sam Powell-Pepper was prolific in the middle of the ground.

Trialling the new 6-6-6 starting positions rule and play-in from kick-ins, Port was without several key players because of injury, including Robbie Gray and Hamish Hartlett (knees), Charlie Dixon (broken leg) and Ollie Wines (shoulder).