Forum topic

Kye Turner any good? Must be the first player to come to Willi from Port since Billy Swan in 1989

If he can stay injury free he will be ok for you guys. 
 

Port had signed Dominic Bendedo from Western Bulldogs bringing the total of number of players who have played AFL to 8. As Digs has correctly said in the past playing AFL is no guarantee of VFL success, it’s abut hit and miss - sometimes they shine like Highmore did last season and other times they fail to deliver like Patrick Kerr. From what I’m gathering Port is trying to target players who are match fit rather than taking a punt on players who may be stand outs on their day but have a history of injuries. 

More AFL rejects are negatives rather than positives Mega,

Not many John Bairds around !

"Kye Turner any good? Must be the first player to come to Willi from Port since Billy Swan in 1989"

Groin inuries have really held him back. Has only played 11 games in 3 years. Hard to tell how good he is.

Played 2 games for Frankston in 2022

Drafted by Melb 2023 0 games

Played 6 games with Casey 2023

Played 3 games for Port 2024

Interesting comment Digs. A good percentage are no good at VFL and look past it but not sure I agree it’s the majority. I think it’s a mixed bag generally speaking- some are stand outs like Templeton and some you consider them lucky to have got to AFL. It would be a interesting exercise to list a few dozen Ex AFL players and go through the list and see what percentage were successful ie top 10 players of the club they went to.

Thanks for the stats Bearsman, Plappy must think he has something to offer if they can keep him fit and healthy but he hasn't got a great history with injuries 

Ben Jolley was ex-AFL, he stuck around a while and played a few games, most of them very good 

A true Port Melbourne great. May of played at lesser known clubs as well - not sure !

very droll, you thinking of Essendon, perhaps? 

Hugh Trigg has signed for Port - what are your thoughts Digs ? At least the North Ballarat boys are going to another club that you love, can he make the step up ? 

Unable to comment Mega.

Don't know much about him,

Macca must see something in him !

Yes Essendon was one of those clubs Wal but please note the statement was in plural. In this Holly time of Christmas i guess i should do the right thing and ask you forgive my Williamstown banter this year. 

Merry Christmas to all the PORT MELBOURNE fans, i wish only the best for our club in 2025. A sincere Merry Christmas to all other posters including the Williamstown ones and also wish you all the best in 2025 (just not as much as the Port Melbourne Football Club). 

Enjoy - eat, drink and be Merry - Make every day Christmas.

No offence taken, MegaA - happy Xmas and NY to you and everyone else on here, cheers and beers 

Merry Christmas Wal and to everyone on this site! Here's to another strong standalone season in 2025.

Port Melbourne has announced the departure of 17 of its 2024 squad - most of these are pretty well known but include Mccombe, Gowers, Flockart, Harry Mcguire, Daniel Mackenzie. Ive made an attempt to make a list of the ones we have signed for 25 - Feel free to add to the list anybody i may have left out.

Jake Skinner - Geelong Falcons - Defender

Flynn Penry - 201 cm ruck fom Cobden Bombers

These 2 players are 18 years of age

Ned Hawkins - Sydney Swans VFL (one gamer) 

Dominic Bendedo - 2 game Western Bulldogs midfielder 

Tom Graham - Norwood - 24 years of age who played regularly for Norwood who finished top of the table and featured in the best list twice this season

Charlie Lazarro - 39 game North Melbourne AFl  midfielder / forward - 22 years old

Sam Grant - another Ruckman - transfered over from Coburg where he played 8 games

Will Martyn 23 years of age who played 3 games for Richmond AFL 

Felix Dreher, a 22 year old defender from Northern Bullants who played 6 games towards the end of the season. I'm guessing that he was injured for the majority of the season and averaged a impressive 24.5 disposals per game. 

James Van Es - was on St Kildas list however injury setbacks hindered his chances of getting a game.

Ajang Kuol - I can hear Richhie Benauds voice with this one - Ajang is 202 for 22 - 202 cms and 22 years of age.

Patrick Farrant - Collingwood VFL forward

Tex Wanganeen - son of Gavin who played 5 games for Essendon AFL

Michael Rudd - Carlton VFL

Max Rider - Sydney VFL 

The one that everybody is talking about and even non VFL fans know of - Dyson Heppell 

North Ballarat signings 

Josh Sparkman - Hugh Trigg,  Riley Polkinghorne, Malachi White with Riley being a 2 times best and fairest winner at North Ballarat and out expert of regional football has given him a big nod of approval (Digs). 

The following 18 players have resigned 

Tom Highmore, Josh Green, Jimmy Miller, Matthew Gahan, Archie Manton, Owen Mullady, Fraser Rosman, Sam Phillip, Kai Dimattina, Lachie Rankin, Tobe Watson, Tom Hird, Jack Johnson, Tom Hoffert, Anthony Anastasio, Matt Signorello, Angus Curry, Hooper - all have resigned.

By my calculations that makes 38 players on our list for next season - I believe 42 is the cap therefor near complete and people are now in a position to rate our chances. The obvious common theme here is youth - the club looks to be building a young squad for future development with most players signed under 23 years of age. With 4 spots left the late Christmas (or early Orthodox Christmas) wish list by fans I feel would be a key forward and ruckman (at least that seems to be the common player in demand by the supporters I've spoken to).

In the previous few seasons Port fans as well as neutrals were very optimistic and expected big improvements - how are people (not just Port fans) feeling about Ports chances next season ?

On a final note - Happy New Year to everyone on this page and all the best of health and happiness to all. Thanks David for persevering with the page as I know their was a time when the continuation of the page was in doubt. Bring on season 2025 ! 

Charlie Clark who was rumoured to join Port if he wasn't picked up by another AFL club has chosen to play down the road at Port Colts. Still a few places to fill at Port, will be Interested in seeing who Port signs to complete the list.

Port has signed ex Carltin Captain Marc Murphy to its coaching staff. Many on the terraces believed that the team wasn't the problem last season and that it was the coaching. Should that theory be true it appears that Port now has a good recipe for success with decent player retention albeit in need of a key forward and ruckman and a coaching team as good as we have seen at vfl level. Should those positions be filled then i feel Port shouldn't settle for anything less than week 2 of finals.