HE IS known as one half of Port Adelaide's bash brothers, but midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper is turning heads on the track for his slimmed-down physique.
The 21-year-old has impressed the Power's coaching staff having lost weight in the off-season to improve his running capacity.
Defensive coach Brett Montgomery – who is back at the club where he won a premiership in 2004 as a player – said Powell-Pepper had been a standout since he arrived late last year.
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"What I saw day one when I arrived was a fit, determined, inspired and exciting young man," Montgomery said.
"He was winning everything, he was well prepared.
"I do hear that perhaps that wasn't the case 12 months ago, so we've got an improved player on our hands.
"He's dropped weight, he's running better.
"They'd be a cost in that, whether it be strength or power, but we certainly haven't noticed any on the track, he's been really impressive."
Third in the 2017 NAB AFL Rising Star award, Powell-Pepper earnt the 'bash brothers' nickname alongside fellow tough onballer Ollie Wines.
The Power are still yet to appoint a captain for this season after Travis Boak stepped down in November.
Montgomery said up to 10 players had been given the chance to display their leadership skills during training.
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"We're trialing guys at training at the moment, armbands and different guys nominated to take different things so we're trying to get guys some exposure to see how they handle different scenarios," he said.
"At last count, we've probably experimented with eight to 10.
"The group's pretty large, but without talking specific names, wherever it falls amongst that group, we'll be pretty happy.
"We'll give it as much time as we can to get the decision right."
Montgomery, 44, has taken charge of the Power's backline as well as being responsible for team defence.
Having had a 204-game playing career with the Western Bulldogs and the Power, Montgomery also has extensive coaching experience to draw on having spent time with Carlton, the Bulldogs, football director at Melbourne Grammar and as an opposition analyst for Greater Western Sydney last year.
He interviewed for the vacant Brisbane Lions senior coaching position in September, 2016, but wasn't sure if that was still his long-term goal.
"It's a tough one for me to answer," Montgomery said.
"That (the Brisbane job) was right place, right time, right fit for me, but it didn't go my way, so you go back to work and get another experience and try to get your team into the finals.
"Just happens to be I'm at the team that I love, so it means just even more."
Defender Jarrod Lienert left training early with knee soreness, but it isn't considered serious.
Fellow defender Tom Clurey jogged laps and key forward Charlie Dixon didn't take part in Wednesday morning's session.
Paddy Ryder, Sam Gray, Riley Bonner, Hamish Hartlett and Trent McKenzie were in the rehab group, while Sam Hayes was restricted to a stationary bike as he continues his rehab from a torn ACL.
