AFL 2021: Connor Rozee kicks six goals in Port Adelaide pre-season trial
It was the best against the rest for much of the match, but the form of Connor Rozee was hard to ignore. Take a look at Matt Turner’s analysis of Port Adelaide's pre-season trial.
Port Adelaide
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Recruits Aliir Aliir and Orazio Fantasia look to have added strings to Port Adelaide’s bow after impressing in the club’s internal trial at Alberton Oval on Saturday.
Aliir’s rebound and strength were on show in defence, where he spent some of the match on Todd Marshall, while Fantasia kicked two goals in an evasive and speedy performance.
When the second half became a “best 22” versus the rest, the duo was in the first-choice side, along with pick No. 16 Lachie Jones.
Port Adelaide traded for former Swan Aliir – the Power’s equal-tallest defender – to boost its backline height and help replace swingman Justin Westhoff.
Ex-Bomber Fantasia offers dynamism forward of the ball and appears to have shaken the injury issues that have hampered the start to his career.
“I don’t like to highlight too many individuals in practice games but I look at our two new guys with AFL experience in Orazio and Aliir, and both looked really good in patches,” Port Adelaide SANFL mentor Matthew Lokan said.
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The day started with assistant coach Nathan Bassett saying the club would have a “squad mentality” this year because there was 30 to 32 players they wanted to feature.
It seems to indicate the Power will rotate during the campaign and give more opportunities to those on the fringes after using a league-low 30 players in 2020 on the way to a preliminary final.
“One thing we’ve that identified over summer is that we’ve got some really good depth – it’s going to be hard for spots,” Lokan said.
“Guys who weren’t in the best 22 (side) have certainly got an opportunity to play Round 1.”
Connor Rozee was another standout, kicking six goals and setting up one, while shrugging off concerns about the plantar fascia foot issue that plagued him last year and caused him to miss a few weeks of training last month.
Lokan said Rozee would need to be managed in 2021 “but we manage all our players”.
“Connor’s had a little bit of a foot issue that’s held him back a little bit but … he played pretty well,” he said.
“He’s starting to get back into some really good form and consistent training, and I expect a big year from him.”
The game was played over four 25-minute quarters.
The Advertiser’s other take-outs from Saturday were:
■ A strong indication of the Power’s Round-1 team came when it was best-22 (wearing black) against the others (white) after halftime. Tom Rockliff and Sam Powell-Pepper swapped between the teams, as did Scott Lycett and Mitch Georgiades, giving Power coaches a look at the first-choice side with one (Peter Ladhams) and two ruckmen (Ladhams and Lycett). Lokan said Ladhams had been very good over summer but people should not read anything into how the rucks lined up. “It was a good opportunity to get our more experienced guys in one team but nothing’s fixed for Round 1,” he said.
■ Miles Bergman was among the best for the “others” team, playing at halfback and looking bulked up from last year.
■ Fans might have been surprised to see Hamish Hartlett on the white team in the second half but that was indicative of him returning from off-season knee surgery.
■ Ollie Lord has been arguably the Power’s lowest-profiled off-season recruit and he looks a nice prospect. He took a strong mark in the forward line then kicked truly in the first half and covered the ground well.
■ Riley Bonner, who was overlooked for Port Adelaide’s finals campaign, played halfback and wing for the black side. When Hartlett returns to full fitness, Bonner is a candidate to make way.
■ Only three players were missing on Saturday: Trent McKenzie (corked thigh), Jackson Mead (hamstring) and Tyson Goldsack (rested). “(Mead) probably could’ve played – if it was a grand final he probably would’ve,” Lokan said. “He’s been training really well and had a really good summer and I’d expect him to play some good footy over the next couple of weeks”.
■ For SuperCoach fans, Jones ($139,800) is closing in on an opening-round berth. “He’s a tremendous talent and it’s obviously going to take him some time, but we don’t hold him back or say he’s playing Round 1 or he isn’t,” Lokan said. “We saw today some of his power and ability to get out of traffic is AFL standard.”
■ Power coaches would have had their hearts in their mouths when Joel Garner cleaned up vice-captain Ollie Wines on the outer side of the ground. Wines took a few seconds to get up but he was fine and played out the game. “I think that’s a credit to our playing group,” Lokan said. “Right to the last minute they were hungry for the contest.”
■ With the traditional Alberton Oval scoreboard having been demolished, the goals and behinds for Saturday’s game were noted on a small, portable cricket-style one. The black side prevailed 22.10 (142) to 4.3 (27).
■ Mitch Georgiades played well and could have kicked five or six goals if he kicked straight. The second-year forward was dangerous early but wayward and finished with three majors.
■ Hartlett’s head was cut open after a marking contest and he spent time on the bench in the second half. That was the only thing resembling an injury that had been reported post-match.
WILL EDDIE EXIT ACCELRATE PORT’S PRISON BAR PUSH?
Eddie McGuire’s resignation as Collingwood president appears a win for Port Adelaide’s push to wear its prison-bar guernsey once a year.
The Power wants to don the strip in home Showdowns, but has long said its planned submission to the AFL has nothing to do with McGuire or black-and-white rival Collingwood.
That it is simply up to the league, which approves all club guernsey designs, to decide if the club can wear its traditional SANFL jumper.
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The public’s perception is that McGuire has been a roadblock.
It may not be reality but what is unquestioned is the departing president has been by far the most vocal critic to Port Adelaide’s bid and has put pressure on the league.
Last year he even threatened legal action if the AFL allowed the Power to play in the guernsey more often.
He has been adamant use of the jumper – worn by the Port Adelaide in the SANFL since 1902 and five times in the national competition, including against Adelaide last year – is barred by AFL deals the Power had agreed to.
On Footy Classified in June last year, McGuire said: “Port Adelaide signed a petition, it was called a contract. They signed it twice, coming into the competition and another one that’s got my signature and (AFL chief executive) Gill McLachlan’s signature on it and the president of Port Adelaide. They (AFL) must defend the copyright.”
McGuire’s stance towards Port Adelaide wearing the prison-bars at the top level resembled one of his predecessors, the late Allan McAlister, who was just as protective of Collingwood’s colours and nickname.
McAlister was similarly outspoken at the time of Port Adelaide’s AFL entry and only softened when the Power revealed teal in their inaugural guernseys.
With McAlister no longer alive and McGuire gone from his post, it remains to be seen how forthright Collingwood’s next president will be about the Power’s push.
Port Adelaide believes that is irrelevant to the issue.
Club officials – past and present – deny they have ever signed contracts restricting when Power can wear the prison-bar guernsey.
And, buoyed by a petition with more than 38,000 signatures, the club is moving ahead with its submission to the league.
That will be music to the ears of Port Adelaide supporters and also this year’s squad.
Captain Tom Jonas told News Corp the players wanted to don it “as much as possible”.
“But we’ll leave that in the hands of (Port Adelaide chief executive) Matt Richardson and his team, and his discussions with Gill,” Jonas said.
“You walk a little bit taller wearing the prison bars, just knowing the great players and the tough players and resilient players who have gone before you wearing the same colours.”
Power forward Connor Rozee was unsure why it would be an issue for the club to play in the jumper in home Showdowns.
“It’s not like we’re playing Collingwood when we’re wearing it,” Rozee said.
“It’s a meaningful guernsey, not only for the players, but all the fans that have supported the club over the 150 years.
“It signifies more than the colours on the guernsey, so hopefully we get to wear it.”
Collingwood premiership player-turned Power development coach and rookie-listed defender Tyson Goldsack said McGuire’s departure meant less opposition, at least for now.
“I’m sure someone will step up and complain about the prison bars, but we have our right to play in it,” Goldsack said.
“It is about heritage and Collingwood is all about heritage, so they should understand.”
Originally published as AFL 2021: Connor Rozee kicks six goals in Port Adelaide pre-season trial
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