AFL 2022: Latest Port Adelaide news for the clash against Sydney

After four years of trying, Brynn Teakle finally got his AFL chance in the mid-season draft. And now, just two weeks after being selected, he will debut.

As Brynn Teakle stood on Alberton Oval telling family about his whirlwind AFL debut, his dad, Nathan, was spraying crops on their WA wheat and sheep farm.

Teakle, 22, shared the news on the phone at Port Adelaide training on Thursday, just 15 days after joining the club via the mid-season draft.

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“I had a missed call from (Power football manager) Chris Davies … and thought it was a return call from last week and then he handed the phone to Brynn who said ‘what are you doing on the weekend? Do you want to come to South Australia? I’m making my debut’,” Nathan told News Corp.

“I just said ‘congratulations, I better make the effort to get over there’.

“Then we were just madly on the phone, organising tickets and accommodation, and we’re flying over tomorrow (Friday) morning.

“We’re excited, over the moon.

“It’s something we anticipated may happen in the next few months, certainly not this close.”

Teakle, who stands 203cm and 99kg, has been selected to lead the ruck for the Power against Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

He was drafted from WAFL club East Fremantle, where he played his last game on May 28, and kicked three goals in his SANFL debut for the Magpies on Saturday.

About 30 family members are coming over to watch him face the Swans.

“We’re not putting too many expectations on him, we’re just hoping he does his best,” said Nathan, a farmer from Northampton, five hours north of Perth.

“He’s put in the work the last couple of years and it’s all built up to this now.”

Teakle first nominated for the draft in 2018 then trained with Essendon for a month in 2020, but was overlooked.

He has added about 6kg since last pre-season, as well as improved his goalkicking and ruck craft.

Brynn Teakle first nominated for the draft in 2018 and has finally got his chance at Port Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley

Working on his set-shot routine at East Fremantle over summer with golf mentor Ritchie Smith – the coach of this year’s US Open winner Minjee Lee – helped his accuracy.

Teakle averaged 14.7 disposals and one goal in six WAFL games for the Sharks this year, kicking two majors and taking five contested marks in his last match before being drafted.

East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan said Teakle was athletic, competed well aerially, was adept at ground level and a skilful kick.

Monaghan likened him to Fremantle’s Rory Lobb in that he was probably a forward/ruck foremost.

But he said Teakle’s mobility was impressive for a big man and he would improve his ruck contests by being in the AFL system.

“Brynn’s come on in leaps and bounds the last couple of years,” Monaghan said.

“He was a pretty raw, average colt player who’s stuck to his task, worked in the gym and improved in areas he’s needed, especially around his competitiveness.

“He’s a typical country kid – easygoing, he listens and wants to get better.”

Teakle gets his opportunity over Sam Hayes and with No.1 ruckman Scott Lycett still three weeks away from returning.

The Power did not play a recognised ruckman in last Thursday’s loss to Richmond, as forwards Jeremy Finlayson and Charlie Dixon battled against Toby Nankervis.

Power coach Ken Hinkley said he had never seen anyone during his time in football debut two weeks after arriving at a club.

“It’s one of the great stories around the mid-season draft,” Hinkley said of Teakle.

“He’s an infectious person, a really easy-to-like fella.

“It’s exciting for us.”

Teakle’s cousin, Julia, is joining him at Port Adelaide after being recruited as an AFLW player this month.

SuperCoach alert: Port to unveil mid-season rookie

Brynn Teakle will make his AFL debut for Port Adelaide on Saturday, just 17 days after being taken in the mid-season draft.

Power coach Ken Hinkley confirmed on Thursday that the 22-year-old would lead the ruck against Sydney on Saturday after impressing with three goals in his SANFL debut last weekend.

West Australian Teakle is among four Port Adelaide changes for the crunch clash.

Veterans Robbie Gray (managed), Travis Boak (Covid), Steven Motlop (dropped) and Trent Dumont (calf) are all out.

Forward Mitch Georgiades, speedster Martin Frederick and midfielder Jackson Mead are the other inclusions.

Teakle, who was recruited from East Fremantle, phoned his parents at the start of Power training on Wednesday to confirm his selection.

“In my time in football, I’ve never seen anyone make their debut within 14 days (of arriving at the club),” Hinkley said.

“It’s one of the great stories around the mid-season draft.

“He’s got some great energy ... and played with great energy at SANFL level.

“He’s an infectious person, a really-easy-to like fella.

“It’s exciting for us.”

Port Adelaide mid-season draftee Brynn Teakle at Alberton Oval. Picture: Mark Brake

Four-time All-Australian Gray is being managed to help him overcome a knee issue that had plagued him since round 1.

The 34-year-old registered zero second-half disposals in last week’s loss to Richmond and six for the game.

Hinkley said there was no timeline on the return of the small forward, who needed some solid training.

“We’re giving Robbie the best chance to perform at his best when he plays in the next few weeks, whenever that may be,” he said.

“We had the break, we had the bye and he still wasn’t quite at his absolute best.

“He’s tried to play for the first 10 or 12 weeks without training and that’s unsustainable no matter how good you are and we know how great Rob’s been.

“Robbie will emerge really quickly ... and once he’s capable of that, you won’t have this coach holding him out for long.”

Robbie Gray (right) is being managed for round 14. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Six days on from their head clash that sparked debate about concussion protocols, Zak Butters and Tom Jonas trained away from the main group with no contact but both have been declared available to play this weekend.

Butters, who had a minor cheekbone crack, and Jonas returned to the field against the Tigers without undertaking a 20-minute concussion test.

Port Adelaide is 5-7 heading into a match where a loss will go a long way to killing off its finals hopes.

Hinkley said the Power brought in a recognised ruckman to help its scoring potency by allowing Jeremy Finlayson, Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall to spend more time in attack.

Scott Lycett was running around with the main group at training and remains about three weeks from being available.

Originally published as AFL 2022: Latest Port Adelaide news for the clash against Sydney