Test For Port Is To Improve Through Power Of Learning

The Age

Tuesday February 5, 2008

Ashley Porter, Adelaide

PORT Adelaide has travelled 380 kilometres north of the South Australian capital to Whyalla for the first stop on its AFL Community Camps program.

This steel town on the western shores of the Spencer Gulf is steeped in the history of Australian football, having produced one of the state's greatest players in Barrie Robran. But the triple Magarey medallist belongs to the past and Port is far more interested in working on its future.

The club that has had seven NAB Rising Star nominees in the past two years - Danyle Pearce (2006 winner), Jacob Surjan, Brad Symes, Matt Thomas, Justin Westhoff, Robbie Gray and Travis Boak - has a host of youngsters in its ranks and the expectations for them are high.

Shaun Burgoyne recently rated 17-year-old new draftee Marlon Motlop (cousin of teammate Daniel) as the "next big thing" at Port, but veteran ruckman Brendon Lade, who has gone through more pre-season campaigns than he cares to remember, yesterday cited half-forward Damon White as the next young star.

Lade supported his assessment with the fact that White, who, because of ordinary form, was restricted to 13 games last year to take his career tally to 49 since 2002, has worked his way into the team's top five in terms of running durability and strength.

Far more important, said Lade, the 24-year-old has apparently done well in an exam set by Mark Williams. Each year, the coach gets his players to sit at desks beneath fluorescent lights and answer questions on football; general knowledge on the game and, more specifically, on where the forwards should be running, how the backline works together, the centre plays and so on.

Lade, who finished second in last year's gruelling exam, said it was clear just looking at White and observing his movement that he had improved considerably, but it was the broadening of his football knowledge that had also taken him to another level.

"His (White's) understanding of the forward-line structure, where everyone has to run and where he has to run, is now first class," Lade said. "Hopefully, he's going to get an opportunity to show what he can do out on the field. That's all he needs, an opportunity.

"We're about improving. Probably not major, just the little things. I think we are already a better team than we were last year . . . we are a lot smarter again. 'Choco's' (Williams) philosophy is about being a learning club and we have definitely been that this pre-season.

"The young guys did really well in the exam and that is a credit to the coaching staff for how much they do teach everyone in this club and fast-track young players up to the speed of the AFL.

"It's important for the young guys to know these things. It's putting in place the simple things. Football is 50-50, you need to be 50% being as fit as you can be and 50% knowing what is going on out on the field."

Over the next two days, Port is spreading its word with flights as far north as Roxby Downs, across to Cleve and Kimba and down to Port Lincoln. Last year it visited 200 schools, but the logistical issues across sparse areas of South Australia's mid and far north regions have limited the exercise to 40.

Lade, who also named Boak, Gray and Adam Cockshell as among other young players to watch, suggested they and another young group would get opportunities in Port's NAB Cup campaign, which starts against Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Saturday week.

However, Lade said he won't be seen in the Cup until probably round three, as will be the case with Burgoyne. Chad and Kane Cornes will make appearances off the bench.

© 2008 The Age

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