HIGH-PROFILE recruit Israel Folau has had a tough start to his AFL career, conceding four first-half goals in Greater Western Sydney's 95-point loss to Port Adelaide in the final round of the NAB Challenge at Willaston Oval on Saturday.
Folau started at full-back opposed to Power forward Jay Schulz in his first hit-out since making the switch from rugby league last year.
The former Brisbane Broncos star displayed great evasive skills and athleticism but not surprisingly lacked game sense, suggesting his transition to the AFL will be a gradual one.
Schulz lost Folau on the lead several times in the opening term and capitalised with three goals.
Port Adelaide's reigning leading goalkicker added a fourth goal in the second term after Folau was caught ball watching on the wing.
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy moved Folau into attack in the third term and the rugby-league convert responded with a superb high mark, before being switched back into defence for the last quarter. He ended the day with a handful of possessions.
After the game, Sheedy said he was pleased with his boom recruit's first hit-out.
"Izzy's starting position when Port Adelaide had the ball was probably a little bit far away from his opponent at times…but to get out and play a game of 360-degree footy…I thought he was okay," Sheedy said.
"He probably had the best handball of the whole match [in the last quarter] and hardly anybody saw it because it was that quick. His kicking is okay and he's definitely not afraid. If he can build on that I'll be quite happy."
Schulz finished with six goals to lead Port Adelaide's goalkicking, while Daniel Motlop, Cameron Hitchcock and Robbie Gray each kicked three goals.
Gerald Ugle was the only multiple goalkicker for the Giants, who managed just six goals in the 21.13 (139) to 6.8 (44) loss.
Port Adelaide's big win was marred by a foot injury to midfielder Matt Thomas.
Doctors feared Thomas had suffered a recurrence of the debilitating plantar fasciitis that derailed his 2008 season, but after the game coach Matthew Primus said he was optimistic the hard-nosed onballer would be available for the club's season-opener.
"The main thing was that we got through unscathed without any injuries except for Matty Thomas, but he's a chance to play in round one and the guys we eased back into it all got through okay," Primus said
"To the players' credit I thought they kept on working pretty hard no matter what the scoreboard [said]."
Rookie-listed onballer Jarrad Irons also sat out the second half, after jarring his knee.
Injury-prone midfielders Robbie Gray and Hamish Hartlett continued their impressive pre-seasons, while Matthew Broadbent pressed his claims for a place in the team for round one with a dominant display.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.4 12.11 14.13 21.13 (139)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.3 2.3 4.7 6.8 (44)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Schulz 6, Motlop, Gray, Hitchcock 3, Boak, Broadbent 2, Westhoff, Hartlett
Greater Western Sydney: Ugle 2, Cameron, Tunbridge, Giles, Clifton
BEST
Port Adelaide: Schulz, Gray, Boak, Hartlett, Broadbent, Carlile
Greater Western Sydney: Giles, Cameron, Ugle, Miles
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Thomas (plantar fasciitis), Irons (ankle)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Grun, Hay, Bowen
Official crowd: 4104 at Willaston Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
