Sam Powell-Pepper, Ollie Wines, Travis Boak lead resurgence in contested ball at Port Adelaide
SAM Powell-Pepper has responded to an early-season AFL ban by leading Port Adelaide in contested possessions with the enforced break making him realise what is important to him.
Port Adelaide
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SAM Powell-Pepper has responded to an early-season AFL ban by leading Port Adelaide in contested possessions with the enforced break making him realise what is important to him.
The second-year midfielder has won 63 contested possessions in the past five games - equal with inspirational vice-captain Ollie Wines which coincides with the Power turning a six-week slide in the all-important statistic into a five-week winning run.
Powell-Pepper missed four games from Rounds 4-7 because of a late-night nightclub incident in April and his return to the team in Round 8 has coincided with a new look Power team which faces its biggest test against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
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“I rate him extremely highly, always have and always will. We get some things we learn along the way and that was a big learning for him,” Power assistant coach Michael Voss said.
“Sometimes it reminds us about what’s important and how you’re supposed to prepare and get yourself weekly to game to game to play at a high level.
“It’s made him hungrier and we’re seeing that. He brings an energy to us, he might be only young but he brings that to us.
“He embraces contact. It’s not a second thought to him, it’s a priority thought and he goes looking for it and others feed off it.
“He adds a great dynamic to us.”
Third in contested ball for the Power over the past five games is not a midfielder but high-half-forward Travis Boak who has led the way as captain.
“And he plays in one of the more difficult positions because he doesn’t play necessarily in the inside of it all but he’s really important on the out-number and second contest,” Voss said.
Wines meanwhile gave the Power a huge boost mid-week by signing a new four-year deal and Voss said he was becoming a more complete player rather than just an inside-ball king.
“He’s certainly taken more responsibility and that sometimes comes with the position that’s been given to you but it also comes with wanting to have that role,” Voss said.
“It’s been born on the back of him being a lot closer in his all-round game than what he has been in the past.
“Everyone talks about his contest work and he has to bring that to the minute to us, but it’s his intent that he’s showing in defence which has been a significant improvement in his game over time and likewise with the ball in his hand.
“He’s in a really comfortable space with that and has really tested himself in that area.
“And in that he’s felt like he can say a little bit more and have more responsibility for the team and is really delivering in his performance which as a leader is the first thing you have to bring.”
reece.homfray@news.com.au
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