Port Adelaide track watch: Power assistant Chad Cornes pushes Joe Berry’s case for round 1 debut
Chad Cornes is backing a draftee to walk straight into Port Adelaide’s senior team for round 1. Plus get the details on Ken Hinkley’s overseas adventure and more in track watch.
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Port Adelaide draftee Joe Berry is heading towards a round 1 debut.
That is the view of Power forwards coach Chad Cornes, who has praised the Murray Bushrangers goalsneak’s immediate influence at Alberton
“Joe Berry in particular is a guy who, in my mind, will play straight up,” Cornes said after training at Alberton on Wednesday while talking about the club’s recruits.
“He’s a really smart half-forward who’s got great running ability and uses the ball well.”
Berry was not at the session because he and other first-year players were in Melbourne for an AFL induction.
Nor was Power coach Ken Hinkley, who was in New Zealand this week on a personal development trip.
Hinkley is touring several sporting organisations, including New Zealand Rugby, along with the club’s coach development manager Rob Mason and development coach Cam Sutcliffe.
He is expected to be there for training on Friday when Port will have a match simulation.
The Power selected Berry with its first pick, No. 15, in the national draft in November.
Last month, club captain Connor Rozee lauded the 181cm Victorian, saying he and Port’s fellow Bushrangers draftee Jack Whitlock looked like they were going to be stars.
The Power targeted forwards during last year’s exchange period, recruiting Berry and Whitlock, along with Collingwood goalsneak Joe Richards and Gold Coast swingman Jack Lukosius and rookies Benny Barrett and Tom Cochrane.
They lost long-time spearhead Charlie Dixon to retirement.
“Joe Richards … has been very impressive, as well as Lukosius,” Cornes said.
“Everyone we’ve brought in have shown some great signs.
“It’s nice because we’ve had some struggles in the forward line the last couple of seasons through injury in particular.”
Adding Berry, Richards and Barrett, and Sam Powell-Pepper’s return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury boost the Power’s small forward stocks.
In last year’s finals, they had the now delisted Francis Evans and Quinton Narkle in that role, alongside Willie Rioli and Darcy Byrne-Jones.
Jed McEntee is another option, while Tom Anastasopoulos and Lachie Charleson are yet to debut.
“To have a great selection of small forwards to choose from is what we’re really enjoying,” Cornes said.
“The small forward position is one that we’ve had some guys who’ve really tried and given their all.
“But guys we’ve brought in have got real running power to get up and down the ground, and add to the way we want to move the footy.
“We’re going to look at ways to add speed on the footy with less long bombs.”
Midfielder Willem Drew did not train after undergoing a minor foot procedure on Tuesday.
Drew had a plantar fascia release to quell discomfort in the arch of his foot.
The club was hopeful he would return to full training within a month and be available for its trial games.
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