WA rugby union star Matt Venter making his mark at Alberton

MATT Venter was smiling after his rugby union side lost the 2012 grand final. He had just been offered a footy lifeline with Port Magpies.

MATT Venter thinks he was the only one to crack a smile in the aftermath of his rugby union side losing the grand final.

Nedlands had gone down to Associates in Rugby Western Australia’s first-grade decider in September 2012, despite going into the game a hot favourite, but Venter did not stew on it for long.

About 10 minutes after the match, Frank Wood, a WA recruiter for Port Adelaide Football Club, spoke to the 179cm wing and offered him an unlikely Aussie Rules lifeline.

Ten months of skills training and a one-week trial later, Venter, 23, signed with Port Adelaide Magpies for the 2014 SANFL season.

“I was completely shocked when I spoke to Frank, but excited as well,” Venter says.

“He was pretty happy with my speed and pace on the ball, and said ‘do you want to have a run around and we’ll see if we can tee something up with the Power?’

“After the game, I was still pretty ecstatic, even after we lost.

“To then be offered a contract with the Magpies was great.”

South African-born Venter played Aussie Rules in primary school and as a youngster dreamt of an AFL career.

But he walked away from it to take up rugby with mates at the end of Year 8.

Coincidentally, he was set to quit rugby to play amateur football in Perth this season had the Port opportunity not emerged.

Instead, Venter spent last year honing his skills with Wood once a fortnight – changing from a left-footer who dropped the ball with his right hand, to a right-footer in the process – and adhering to a training program given to him by Power strength coach Andrew Rondinelli.

He spent a week in November trialling with Port and was offered a spot with the Magpies after being overlooked as an alternative talent recruit for the Power.

Since moving to Adelaide last month, Venter has been practising with Port development coach Stuart Cochrane outside of training three times a week, with a view to becoming a running defender.

“My strength is definitely my pace, but Port also wanted me for a bit of physicality as well,” Venter says.

“I’ve come a long way, but I’m still picking up the game, reading the play and my conditioning.”

Venter hopes to play league footy most weeks for the Magpies this year, then earn a spot at the Power next season.

In the meantime, he is still coming to terms with his code switch.

“It’s all pretty surreal.”