Port Adelaide secures the draft’s best key forward Todd Marshall

PORT Adelaide hopes it has found its next star goalkicker after last night pouncing on the best key forward in the draft.

New Port Adelaide recruit Sam Powell-Pepper.

PORT Adelaide hopes it has found its next star goalkicker after last night pouncing on the best key forward in the draft.

The Power used its highest selection since 2012 (No. 16 overall) on 197cm, 86kg NSW product Todd Marshall — a former star cricketer who the club believes has the tools to develop into one of the best forwards in the competition.

The 18-year-old will take time to become a regular AFL player having only focused completely on football this year.

But he is an enormous talent who fills a key need after Port delisted four-times leading goalkicker Jay Schulz and the underachieving John Butcher.

Marshall was in line to be listed as a GWS Academy player before the AFL ruled him ineligible and he hit the open draft market.

New Port Adelaide draftee Todd Marshall.

He played for the Murray Bushrangers this year.

“He’s quick, athletic and brave,’’ AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said of Marshall.

“He’s not physically developed yet and probably needs to put on 8-to-10 kg but he’s got all the tools to be a key marking forward.’’

The Power went with tough, contested midfielders with is next three selections at 18, 32 and 33.

The powerful, hard-nosed Sam Powell-Pepper, an indigenous player from WA club East Perth, was picked at 18.

Port then swooped on Joseph Atley from the Bendigo Pioneers at 32 and Willem Drew from North Ballarat at 33.

Powell-Pepper, 18, is a great size at 187cm and 90kg and has the ability to win the tough footy and burst from the contest.

couldn't be happier with the opportunity @PAFC have given me and the other boys!

— Todd Marshall (@toddmarshalll) November 25, 2016

Atley, 18, is the younger brother of North Melbourne’s Shaun Atley

He lacks his brother’s explosive pace, preferring to win the ball in tight.

Drew, 18, is a tough, 188cm midfielder with red hair who loves getting down and dirty.

With four picks in the top 31, last night’s draft was dubbed as one of the most important in the Power’s history following two years without finals and the fact it traded away its first-round pick in the previous three years to secure top-end talent.

Prior to last night, Port’s last first-round pick was spent on powerful Victorian midfielder Ollie Wines at No. 7 in 2012.

The Power capitalised on a draft that Collingwood recruiter Matt Rendell, the former Crows talent chief, rated as one of the best top-end drafts in history.

“The best 20 is probably the best 20 I’ve ever seen,’’ Rendell said prior to the first name being called last night.

“I think they’ll all play a lot of footy, the top 20, and some clubs are going to get some good players at No. 40, even No. 50.

“I think we’ll look back in three or four years time and say this was a cracker.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide secures the draft’s best key forward Todd Marshall