PORT Adelaide forward Justin Westhoff has emerged as a likely candidate for the club’s vacant second ruck position, after a strong showing in the internal trial on Saturday night.
Westhoff, 23, switched between the ruck and attack in the 100-minute hit-out, as the Power continued their search for a partner for first choice ruckman Dean Brogan.
Prior to Christmas, coach Mark Williams identified untried 20-year-old Matthew Lobbe as the frontrunner in the race, but Westhoff’s performance on Saturday night had him shuffling names on his board.
“I thought Westhoff did pretty good in the ruck and Lobbe did okay as well, so that was good for us. What we’ve learned [from the internal trial] is that there are some possibilities [in the ruck] and we’ll keep working through that in the next four or five weeks,” Williams said on Saturday night.
“Justin is a very smart player. He’s got great running power and agility, so [playing him in the ruck] is certainly a good thought.
“Just from my memory standing up the end with [assistant coach] Matthew Primus for a couple of quarters, it was pretty lineball between Westhoff and Lobbe.”
Westhoff’s potential move to the ruck could open the door for another of the club’s tall forwards.
Former Richmond utility Jay Schulz showed some good signs and Williams said the 24-year-old was likely to make his Power debut in the NAB Cup clash with Adelaide next Saturday afternoon.
“Jay looked pretty good and he’s looked pretty good all pre-season. We’ve played lots of 20-minute quarters at training and he’s looked pretty good in those,” he said.
“I think we can play Warren Tredrea and Schulz together. It’s [a matter of] how many other talls we want to play up there, so it’s about trying to get that balance right.
“We’re pretty keen on giving them [the forwards] opportunities, so that will become more apparent when the end of the NAB Cup comes.”
Two of the club’s small forwards also pushed their cases for selection against the Crows.
Speedy goalkicker Wade Thompson and rookie Cameron Hitchcock provided plenty of spark for the ‘probables’ side and midfielder Kane Cornes also looked at home forward of the centre square.
Williams hinted that Cornes would be used in a different role this season.
“Kane was an outstanding forward as a youngster and he can run like hell, so for him to be able to do that is a good possibility,” Williams said.
“We all know he’s one of the great taggers in the AFL, so [playing forward] freshens him up and gives him some alternatives to think about. It also gives the opposition something to think about as well.”
Seven players, including David Rodan (knee), Hamish Hartlett (hamstring), Josh Carr (calf), Jason Davenport (shoulder), Marlon Motlop (foot), Cameron Cloke (shoulder) and Michael Pettigrew (knee tendonitis), sat out the hotly contested trial.
Of the group, only Carr is likely to be available to play in the pre-season ‘showdown’ next week.
Veterans Brogan, Tredrea and Chad Cornes will be given limited game time during the NAB Cup competition, but Williams said there was still plenty of competition for spots.
“There are 10, maybe, 15 people pushing for about eight spots, so it’ll be great at training this week. [Hopefully] those who get in will take their opportunities and away we’ll go.”
