Port Adelaide football manager Chris Davies has hinted first-round selection Josh Sinn could be on the road to a debut early in the season.
The 18-year-old defender faces a challenge to break into one of the competition’s most cohesive backlines, but hasn’t missed a beat since he pulled on the teal, black and white.
The Sandringham Dragons product has already endeared himself to the Port faithful, having last month told SEN SA he was “pretty fixated on heading over to the ‘Pear.’”
“Josh is a young lad who is really smart and articulate,” Davies told SEN SA Breakfast on Friday.
“He probably knew that we had a level of interest, so on that basis, he decided to make sure he was really up with the history of the club… he did that off of his own bat.”
Port Adelaide have been careful not to run their recruits ragged, Davies cautioned, but Sinn has made a smooth transition into life at Alberton.
“He’s been able to get through everything so far,” he went on.
“I’m sure he’ll be looking to put his best foot forward when the games start next year.”
Sinn will compete with young defenders Miles Bergman, Lachie Jones and Riley Bonner for minutes, while experienced heads Sam Mayes and Trent McKenzie stand in his way too.
He was one of four to join the Power through the national draft; Davies says all are “fitting in really well,” but it will be a longer wait for local midfielder Hugh Jackson, struck down by a hip injury.
“We knew when we drafted him that he was probably going to be a little longer-term, he’s got quite a light frame as well,” Davies explained.
“We thought we could either push him through the year and he might battle a little bit, or we can try and get him ready and effectively take a longer term approach.
“He had that hip surgery a couple of days ago, it went fine and I’m sure he’ll be back in training in probably February or March with the opportunity to play a decent part of next year’s season.”
With their final selection, Port snapped up Next Generation Academy prospect Jase Burgoyne, a slender half-back flanker who represented the club in three SANFL games in 2021.
Burgoyne’s father Peter represented Port Adelaide from 1996 to 2009, and played in the inaugural AFL team in 1997, an SANFL flag in 1998 and the breakthrough AFL premiership in 2004.
His uncle Shaun retired only a few months ago, having also played in that 2004 premiership to go with three for Hawthorn over 407 games.
“We’ve got a pretty settled AFL team,” Davies asserted.
“Someone new to the club should have to force their way into what we think should be a pretty reasonable team.
“For someone like Jase, who again is quite lightly framed, the thing that he can do best to give him a chance to play longer-term is really hit the gym hard.
“(If he can) get through pre-season from a load perspective and give himself a chance at SANFL level.
“He played a few games for us at SANFL level and didn’t look out of place so I’m tipping he’ll have a bright future.
“But clearly, we’ve got to get some work and some load into those guys through their first pre-season.”
Port Adelaide also picked up Sinn’s Sandringham teammate Dante Visentini, a key position player who spent time on all three lines with the Dragons.