VFL: Eli Templeton set to play 100th game as Port battles to keep season alive

The former Saint is having a ‘cracker’ of a season as the Borough struggle to get their season going.

Eli Templeton is jubilant after kicking a goal against Carlton last Saturday.

Eli Templeton says he has heard it from Gary Ayres at the first training session of every pre-season he’s done at Port Melbourne.

When Ayres sets out his expectations, he mentions finals.

“Always,’’ Templeton was saying on Tuesday.

“It’s one of the first things he says.’’

Ayres has been at Port since 2008. Since then the Borough have missed the top eight only once, in 2015. It’s a remarkable record and testament to the historic club’s ability to compete year after year. Two premierships and many games have been won. They have the will and they find a way.

But going into this Sunday’s match against fierce Williamstown at North Port Oval, Port Melbourne’s season is on the brink.

At 1-5, only the Northern Bullants are below the Borough on the ladder. A loss to Willy and they’ll go from treading water to sinking.

Eli Templeton played 14 AFL games for the Saints.

It’s been a pig of a year. They’ve had injuries, some players have flashed in and out form, others have failed to locate any semblance of it and Covid has chopped into the fixture.

Still, they’ve been thereabouts.

Last Saturday Port fell to Carlton by 15 points, despite a stunning performance from 25-year-old Templeton. He had 47 possessions and kicked two goals. Ayres called him “phenomenal’’ and said he was surprised his midfielder hadn’t been taken in the AFL mid-season draft.

“We’ve been in every game, to be honest,’’ Templeton, Port’s vice-captain, was saying on Tuesday.

“Just a 10-minute lapse in concentration here and there, that’s what hurting us.

“If we can string four quarters together, it can turn around. Our season is definitely still alive. I’m not content with just rolling over. I don’t think I’ve missed finals since I’ve moved over here (from Tasmania). Gazz isn’t used to losing. He’ll keep driving us. Big, big game this Sunday on our home deck against our big rivals.’’

It will also be Templeton’s 100th game in the VFL. He made his start in the competition with Sandringham, as a St Kilda player.

He’d been drafted as a rookie and played 14 AFL games.

Eli Templeton joined Port in 2017.

When the Saints delisted him he joined Port in 2017 and that season figured in that classic grand final victory over Richmond. Two years later he won the best and fairest.

Templeton said he’d made the right decision to go to the Borough.

“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,’’ he said.

“It’s a bloody good club, Gazz has been terrific, we‘ve got a great culture.’’

And Templeton said he was proud to be on the verge of the 100-match milestone. He’ll do it in the same round as one of the VFL’s other star midfielders, Werribee’s 2019 JJ Liston Trophy winner Tommy Gribble.

“Pretty stoked to have played that many games actually,’’ Templeton said.

This year he’s produced a few of his best games: he’s averaging 34.8 disposals.

“He’s having a cracker of a year … he’s far and above our best,’’ Ayres said.

“Why he never got mid-season drafted … he could slot in there and perform at that level … he’s been quite remarkable to be honest. He’s at the peak of his powers, I reckon.’’

Eli Templeton playing for St Kilda in 2015.

As for the AFL, Templeton said he retained an ambition to return to it.

His form strong, he nominated for the mid-season draft at the encouragement of people who told him there was no harm in doing so.

He said he’d always wanted to play at the highest level he could and test himself against the best opposition.

“The thing I enjoy most about VFL footy is playing against AFL players, taking it right up to them.

“Yeah, there’s definitely the drive to get picked up. But it’s not the be-all and end-all. I’m happy at Port. Always have been.’’