Tevita Rodan and Louis Salopek walking similar path to AFL dream

Tevita Rodan and Louis Salopek, Port Adelaide father-son prospects, have been walking a similar path to their AFL dream but were on opposing sides on Sunday.

David and Tevita Rodan and Louis and Steve Salopek. Picture: Calder Cannons

David Rodan and Steve Salopek played six years at Port Adelaide together.

They hope their sons will get the same chance.

Tevita Rodan and Louis Salopek, both 16, were both born in Adelaide and took major steps towards their AFL dream on Sunday when they made their Coates League debuts.

Following in their old men’s footsteps, Tevita represented Calder Cannons and Louis playing for Dandenong Stingrays.

The pair are Port Adelaide father-son eligible in 2027, while Tevita is also a member of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy.

However, it’s the not the first time they have shared a football field having represented Victoria at the School Sports Australia carnival last year, and both earning All-Australian honours.

Tevita coming from St Bernard’s College and Louis from Berwick Grammar.

They also played together in Vic Metro’s trial matches against Vic Country last month, both looking to make the cut for the Under-16 National Championships.

It was Louis who took the bragging rights at Shepley Oval as Dandenong claimed a 38-point victory over Calder.

Salopek, a budding midfielder-defender finished with 13 disposals, six marks and two tackles.

Rodan, a small forward in a similar mould to his father, had seven touches, a mark, a tackle and kicked 1.1.

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David Rodan is one of the Coates League’s most decorated players, having won two Morrish Medals in 2000-01.

The Oak Park junior would go on to play 185 games at Richmond, Port Adelaide and Melbourne – his 111 for the Power giving the club first access to Tevita.

Meanwhile, Salopek, a Narre Warren junior was drafted No.6 overall and would go on to play 121 matches for Port.

Both were All-Australians at the Under-18 National Championships, Rodan in 2001 and Salopek in 2002.