Port Adelaide track watch: Joe Berry stakes claim for round-1 debut, Josh Lai and Jack Watkins continue battle for list spot
Not only did Joe Berry line up on the A team in Port Adelaide’s match sim session on Friday, he starred. Get all the intel as the race for round 1 – and the final list spot – heats up.
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Port Adelaide draftee Joe Berry has further staked his claims for a round-1 debut after an impressive performance in match simulation at Alberton on Friday.
Berry played on the A side during the four-quarter game and showed why the Power was thrilled to select him at pick 15 in November.
The 18-year-old left-footer was lively throughout, kicking two goals and bursting through the middle of the ground on several occasions before finding teammates inside 50.
Just as eye-catching was a rundown tackle on ex-Gold Coast defender turned Port SANFL player Jez McLennan on the grandstand wing that resulted in a holding the ball free kick.
Two days after Port Adelaide forwards coach Chad Cornes pushed his case to face Collingwood at the MCG in the Power’s season-opener, Berry was the only Port draftee on the A team.
On Friday, in one of Port’s first match simulations this summer, he played in an attack that also featured recruit Jack Lukosius, high-flyer Mitch Georgiades and veteran Darcy Byrne-Jones.
Talls Ollie Lord and Jeremy Finlayson swapped between the two sides, either forward for the As or in the Bs competing against Jordon Sweet in ruck.
Lukosius, Georgiades or a resting midfielder such as Zak Butters tended to be the deepest forward for the top team.
Former Sun Lukosius had some bright patches, leading well to mark and have several shots at goal, but was a little inaccurate.
The top team’s backline comprised All-Australian Aliir Aliir, ex-Cat Esava Ratugolea, mid-season draftee Logan Evans, hard nut Lachie Jones, half-back Ryan Burton and dashing left-footer Josh Sinn.
Key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher missed the session due to concussion.
Former North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins and lower-league speedster Josh Lai are still competing for a supplemental selection period spot.
Playing in the Bs’ midfield, Watkins’ attack on the footy and tackling shone, but his kicking let him down at times.
Lai lined up for the secondary team on a wing and had two terrific moments.
The first came after he turned the ball over by trying to tap the ball on at half-back, but he recovered quickly and won a free kick for a tackle on Georgiades.
In the last quarter, the two SSP candidates combined when Lai passed to Watkins on the wing, got it back, kept running then slotted a nice goal from about 40m.
Port has until February 21 to make a call on the list spot and may yet create another if it puts Marshall on the inactive list.
The club is expected to wait several more weeks before deciding.
While Berry was the standout draftee, midfielder Christian Moraes did something not easy for a youngster – he brought down a charging Jason Horne-Francis to win a holding-the-ball free kick.
PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED
Joe Berry: It feels like a fair bit will have to go wrong for Berry to not be playing against Collingwood at the MCG on March 15, he is training that well. Berry’s evasiveness, smarts and finishing were on display again. Port needed to improve its small forward stocks and he should complement Willie Rioli, Sam Powell-Pepper and Byrne-Jones really well.
Zak Butters: Had several brilliant reads of ruck taps at centre bounces, hitting the ball at speed then distributing to his midfield teammates.
Dylan Williams: A very fit-looking Williams played with the B team and had a couple of nice passages, including a side step in the middle of the ground, and a strong mark late in the match simulation. After playing 21 games in 2023 but only five last season, Williams is doing his best to put his hand up for more opportunities now that Dan Houston is gone.
Originally published as Port Adelaide track watch: Joe Berry stakes claim for round-1 debut, Josh Lai and Jack Watkins continue battle for list spot
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