AFL Track Watch: All the latest from Port Adelaide training as Joe Berry, Jack Lukosius and Esava Ratugolea impress
Power legend Robbie Gray had a big say in young Victorian Joe Berry landing at Alberton in the draft. Those who didn’t know why, found out a bit more on Friday. All the track standouts.
Port Adelaide youngster Joe Berry did his best impersonation of the man who drafted him at pre-season training at Alberton on Friday, power legend Robbie Gray.
It wasn’t match sim that was the main spectacle during the session, rather a ultra competitive non-stop drill between the forwards and defenders at the end of training.
With the scores level and coaches and players getting competitive about the drill, controversy reigned when one of the defenders was judged to kick the ball out on the full.
Young key forward Ollie Lord, who had been in a big battle with Brandon Zerk-Thatcher throughout, was chief in the appeals for a final shot at goal to win it.
But after getting his wish, Lord instead got the left-footed Berry to take the kick in the right hand pocket at Alberton – with Aliir Aliir leading the protests from the defenders.
Berry was given the kick, and despite having the entire defending team shouting at him and trying to put him off, he slotted it straight through the two big sticks, sparking wild celebrations among the forwards.
Before that, it was the Esava Ratugolea show as the key defender did plenty of good things during match sim and in the forwards-against-defenders drill.
After ending the 2024 campaign as a key forward, the former Cat is back in defence for the Power this pre-season.
During match sim, Ratugolea had a nice line-breaking run from defence, a big spoil that had captain Connor Rozee getting up and about, and then a fantastic effort to come from behind and stop draftee Jack Whitlock from kicking a goal in the goalsquare.
But there was one moment that the swingman would have wanted back after copping a ball to the face after misjudging a bounce. Despite that, there was plenty of positives for Ratugolea after an indifferent first season at the Power.
PLAYERS WHO IMPRESSED
Jack Lukosius
The Power’s forward line will be something to keep an eye on with it set to be a lot more mobile and fluid in 2025. Port’s big-name recruit showed that he can cover plenty of ground as a link-up forward and his kicking is set to be a real weapon for Ken Hinkley’s side next year. He kicked a lovely goal and set up Darcy Byrne-Jones for another during match sim.
Lachie Jones
The hard-nut impressed with plenty of pressure efforts during match sim, getting a couple of his teammates with some big tackles on Friday. The pick of them was pinging Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines for holding the ball when he looked to be getting away. Jones went to the United States with Jason Horne-Francis and Josh Sinn before starting pre-season and he was impressive on Friday.
Jase Burgoyne
The young gun did what few players in the league have done on Friday, lay a big tackle on Power star Zak Butters. And in a sign that would have impressed Power coaches, who have said he is a bit too laconic at times, Burgoyne gave the Port vice-captain a bit of afters following the big tackle.
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