Rising star Connor Rozee’s pride as Port Adelaide honours the legacy of fallen mate John McCarthy

Late Port Adelaide player John McCarthy’s memory lives on in a new form at Alberton — and Connor Rozee could not be more proud to honour him.

Connor Rozee celebrates one of his five goals against Brisbane. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

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John McCarthy’s name lives on at Port Adelaide with one player earning the right to wear his old number each week as a reward for playing in the right spirit.

The retired No. 35 was on Tuesday morning handed to Connor Rozee, who bagged five goals in an outstanding match against Brisbane on the weekend to earn him a Rising Star nomination.

But the honour of wearing McCarthy’s old prison-bar jumper was not for brilliance, but for the little acts that are often missed by the crowd and the commentators.

Connor Rozee celebrates one of his five goals against Brisbane. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“It’s a bit of a thing we’ve been working on throughout the pre-season — our connection,” Rozee said.

“J-Mac’s passing a few years ago now, after they retired his guernsey, we decided to make it a bit of thing during pre-season.

Brad Ebert wears the No. 35 guernsey at Alberton Oval. The jumper is a tribute and reminder of former teammate John McCarthy who died nearly seven years ago and is rotated amongst players every week. Picture Sarah Reed

“The little things that you probably don’t see on TV — the little pressure acts and the one-

percenters — someone who displays that on the weekend gets presented that (jumper) during the week and gets to wear that throughout the week.

“It’s something that we value pretty highly throughout our group.

“I was pretty honoured to wear it today.”

McCarthy died on the club’s post-season trip in Las Vegas in 2012.

The honour of wearing the jumper came as Rozee also flagged a desire to one day spend more time in the midfield despite his prolific goal kicking display.

Rozee, 19, was taken at No. 5 in last year’s national draft and received wide praise for his haul against the Lions, with premiership full forward Alastair Lynch describing his display a “clinic”.

Rozee has been flattered by the praise and said he was honoured by the rising star nomination, but if he gets it his way he won’t be a full-time forward like Lynch.

That is despite sitting equal seventh in the Coleman Medal race after the first three rounds with seven goals to his name.

Connor Rozee flies up forward against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

Rozee played in the backline in North Adelaide’s SANFL premiership last season but can still remember his joy at being around the ball when he played in the under-16s.

Like Chad Wingard, who wore the No. 20 for Port Adelaide before him, he sees himself spending time in multiple roles — when he’s ready.

“It’s a bit of a weird one (his best position),” Rozee said. “I’d said probably in the midfield.

“I haven’t played in the midfield for a long time.

“I’ve probably played every other spot apart from midfield.

“But in the long-term, I think as a midfielder, once I’ve put on a bit of body size and get my tank a bit better as well.

“I think I can be a damaging midfielder in the long-term.

“But at the moment I’m loving playing down forward and I also loved playing at half back for North Adelaide last year.

“I think that’s my strength, that I’m a pretty versatile player and can play a few different positions.

“But in the long term I think as a midfielder I can definitely have a bigger impact on the game.”

Rozee put down the impact the three top draft picks have had this year — Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters have also been prominent — to the freedom they have been given by coach Ken Hinkley.

The senior coach had essentially told them to just go out and play.

“We’ve all worked pretty hard in the pre-season,” Rozee said. “And what we’ve heard from last season is Ken’s come with a much more attacking approach and much more free flowing.

“He allows us to go out there and play our natural game and I think that suits all three of us pretty perfectly.

“We can go out there and play our natural game and that allows us to show our flair and take the game on.

“He’s been really good in that sense.”

And Rozee was confident the Power was still playing the way they wanted, despite the loss to Brisbane at the Gabba in the final minutes.

Port Adelaide was ahead with just five minutes to go but ultimately, a bunch of missed shots for goal that should have been kicked came back to haunt the team.