Jake Weidemann, son of ex-Crow Wayne Weidemann, and former Redleg Luke Surman join Port
The son of a former Crows cult figure and an ex-Redleg headline Port Adelaide’s SANFL signings ahead of the 2021 season.
Port Adelaide
Don't miss out on the headlines from Port Adelaide. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Port Adelaide is close to finalising its SANFL-only contracted playing list for next season.
The club announced five new signings exclusively to The Messenger with Jake Weidemann – the son of former Adelaide Crows cult figure Wayne Weidemann – headlining the list.
Port has also secured the signature of ex-Norwood and Hawthorn forward Luke Surman, as well as Jake Westbrook from Woodville-West Torrens, Dylan Aldridge (North Adelaide) and Campbell Wildman (Sturt/Prince Alfred Old Collegians).
The signatures come after Port picked Collingwood premiership defender Tyson Goldsack in last week’s rookie draft with an aim of providing its young SANFL team with much-needed experience.
Wiedemann featured in 13 reserves games for the Eagles this year after being unable to crack into the strong senior line up, which went on to win this year’s SANFL flag.
The now 21-year-old nominated for the 2017 AFL draft after representing SA at the national under-18 championships, but was not selected.
Port’s SANFL manager Shane Grimm said the club would look to add two more players to its ‘top-up’ list.
Grimm said Wiedemann was keen to don the black and white prison bars despite his father playing 68 games for Adelaide between 1991-96.
“Jake has probably played out of position a little (at the Eagles), he’s tended to have to play in a key position role a little bit,” Grimm said.
“I think he just wanted to try something different.
“It was a very easy sell for us, we didn’t have to push too hard and he seems very keen and the Crows side hasn’t even been mentioned, he was just keen to be involved at Port Adelaide.”
Surman, meanwhile, was on Hawthorn’s list in 2017 before he walked away from an AFL career, returned to SA and joined Norwood.
The 23-year-old lined up in five league matches and six reserves games with the Redlegs this year.
“Luke was a good one because we are looking for a key forward who can ruck a little bit, at SANFL level that’s probably something we need,” Grim said.
“ I think he sees it as maybe another (AFL) opportunity if he can do the right thing in an elite environment around some elite players who might help his game go to the next level.
“With us having the ability to list players mid-season … we do like to do it and not disrupt other SANFL clubs too much, it’d be good to have somebody close by who we already know about.”
Grimm said the club was keen to return to the SANFL after withdrawing from the competition this year following an AFL directive because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’ve managed to pick up a few guys with a bit of league footy experience but who are reasonably young which is good,” Grimm said.
“We are really looking forward to (getting back).”
The 2021 SANFL fixture is set to be released in February.
Originally published as Jake Weidemann, son of ex-Crow Wayne Weidemann, and former Redleg Luke Surman join Port
Mitchell, Ken’s frosty silence continues
Sam Mitchell has reflected on the ugly end to his side’s semi-final loss during which Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley clashed with Hawks players.
McGuane: The Blueprint is there for a Power boilover
The last time these two sides met, the Power won by 112 points. Friday night’s clash will be much closer, writes MICK McGUANE, but Port can prevail if they win four crucial areas.