October 30, 2009

We sometimes stop, stop, stop...

IN 2009, Port Adelaide’s theme song should’ve changed to:

We’ve got the power to win, the power to lose, the power to win, the power to lose...

Because that’s what they showed us, they have a huge win one week, and then get smashed by a lowly opposition the next. Their first two rounds for the season set the scene. A 41-point win over Essendon at home, and then a 50-point loss to West Coast away. When you play like that you’re never going to make the eight. Ninth is what the silver, teal and black and white finished. They simply stuffed it up.
Here’s my look at their top 10 players for season 2009:

1. Warren Treadra
Quite surprising really, you wouldn’t expect a bald dinosaur to win the best and fairest. But in 2009, Treadra took a more humane approach to playing footy, and it paid off. After being held goalless in his first two games, Treadra went bang and kicked 6.1 against the Dees at AAMI, followed by another 6.0 in their surprising win against Hawthorn the week after. He kicked 7.4 four weeks later, his best score in a game since round seven, 1998 when he kicked 8.4 as a 19-year old. For the season, he kicked 51.27 in 21 games, as well as averaging 13.3 possessions, 6.8 marks, 1.3 contested marks, 3.2 marks inside 50 and 0.9 goal assists. It was his best year since 2005, that’s for sure.

2. Kane Cornes
At 26 years-of-age, Kane Cornes put in an equally good effort as his previous four seasons. He averaged 27.1 possessions, 6.3 contested possessions, 4.8 marks and 3.5 tackles. He is so consistent that you barely take notice of how many times he gets the ball. Arguably his best game was in a 93-point loss against the Dogs, where he picked up 36 possessions, 12 marks and three tackles.

3. Troy Chaplin
This guy was a surprise package in 2009, making his name as a running/ key defender. He played 20 games, averaging 18 touches, six marks, 2.1 tackles, 5.6 one-percenters (club high) and he hit the target with 83.3% of disposals. His best game came in round 22 against North where he picked up 28 possessions, took eight marks and laid four tackles. At 23 years-of-age he has plenty of good footy to come in Port Adelaide’s defence.

4 (Equal). Robbie Gray
Just like Chaplin, Gray was a surprise package for the Power. After playing 15 games in his first two seasons, he played a vital role in this team as a small forward/ occasional midfielder. He kicked 30.19 (second for the club), averaged 16.2 possessions, 3.9 marks, 3.1 tackles, 2.4 inside 50s, 2.2 marks inside 50, 7.1 contested possessions (club high) and 1.1 goal assists (club high). Just needs to be more efficient with ball use; he only hit the target 66.9% of the time. Most of his possessions are handballs, which is strange for a forward. Big part of his club’s future.

4 (Equal). Jacob Surjan
Surjan never seems to be recognised for his good work, as his name suggests he continues to be masked up. The small defender averaged 15.2 possessions, 3.6 marks, 2.5 tackles and he hit the target 79.3% of the time. His best game came in round 11 against Fremantle, where he gathered 25 possessions, seven marks and seven tackles. Still has a long way to go.

6. Travis Boak
This exciting young midfielder had an excellent season. Although he missed four games with injury, he averaged 23.7 possessions, 4.5 marks, 4.1 tackles, 6.4 contested possessions and 3.6 inside 50’s. He played many good games, including against North in round seven where he picked up 27 possessions, 10 tackles and two goals, and in round 18 against Hawthorn, where he picked up 35 possessions, eight marks and a goal. I think this guy could be one of the elite in a few years.

7. Domenic Cassisi
Very harsh, that this guy finished as low as seventh. He should’ve been at least second, because he averaged 22.4 possessions (second for the club), a huge 7.7 tackles (easily first), 3.1 marks, 8.4 contested possessions (first) and two inside 50s. His tackling is incredible, he laid at least nine tackles nine times, with a best of 15 in round 16 against West Coast. He picked up 36 possessions in round 15 against Melbourne. Why didn’t he finish higher? Why would a club be so harsh to their first-year captain?

8 (Equal). Alipate Carlile
You gotta love his name, and the way he goes about his footy. The key defender lifted his game even higher. He averaged 13 possessions, five marks, 5.2 one-percenters and he hit the target an extremely accurate 88% of the time. Another key part of Port’s future.

8 (Equal). Danyle Pearce
I remember hearing someone on TV say that Pearce had a disappointing season. I disagree. The 2006 Rising star played all 22 games, averaged 20.5 possessions, 3.6 marks, 2.5 tackles, a club-high 4.7 inside 50s, 1.8 running bounces and five contested possessions. He was a handy goal kicker for the year, kicking 13.16. His best game came in round four against Hawthorn where he racked up 33 possessions, took 11 marks and kicked a goal.

10. David Rodan
The former Tiger, now 26, had another good year. Despite kicking only 13 goals (he kicked a combined total of 50 in the previous two years) he provided plenty of run, which was shown when he kicked that goal on the run against the Dogs in Darwin. Rodan averaged 19.1 possessions, 3.3 tackles, 2.2 marks, 2.7 inside 50s and 4.3 running bounces (double anyone else at the club). Can the Fijian keep firing?

Well, what lies ahead for the Power? You’d think they’d fall, with the Burgoyne brothers and Brendon Lade gone, but there’s that US basketballer Daniel Bass joining the crew, who will hopefully be rucking alongside fellow expat basketballer Dean Brogan next year...


•Port Adelaide's best was a bald dinosaur. Photo by Daniel Wilkins. The Slattery Media Group

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