THE MESSAGE came out for Marlon Motlop to keep running at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and run he did.

Motlop, 18, the youngest player on Port Adelaide’s list picked up 14 touches on debut in the defeat of Melbourne, including five in the last quarter.

The talented Darwin teenager, plucked from the North Adelaide reserves during the week, showed glimpses of the trademark Motlop poise and skill playing across half-forward and in the midfield, but conceded it was a “big step up” from SANFL seconds.

“The plan from the coaches was to start me on the ground, get the run in my legs then to have a good blow out, and that’s what happened," he said.

"I was pretty buggered after about five minutes and I came off - it’s a lot quicker than the SANFL reserves.

“Now that I’ve got a feel for the pace and the intensity of the game, I’ll probably just go out and do the same thing next week. I want to bring a bit of enthusiasm, excitement and energy to the team and hopefully I’ll go one step better.”

Motlop also registered two, albeit inaccurate, shots on goal including one orchestrated by older cousin Daniel.

The elder Motlop twisted, turned and ran in and out of trouble before spotting up Marlon about 40m out directly in front.

He pushed his kick across the face of goal and knew immediately there would be ramifications.

“I was thinking I was going to get it after the game from Daniel and dad,” Motlop said with a laugh.

“I don’t know what happened. I went through my usual routine, but it didn’t come off, as I would’ve liked.”

He praised his unpredictable cousin’s five-goal effort and the pass that could’ve set up his first major in AFL footy.

“Daniel probably meant it, who knows. He probably meant to slip over and muck around with the ball because it bought me time to get in the space,” Motlop said.

“But seriously, it was good to see him play well. It was good to see him getting back into form and kicking five goals because that’s what he usually brings to the side.”

Marlon's debut added another branch to Port Adelaide’s family tree, which already includes brothers Peter and Shaun Burgoyne, brothers Chad and Kane Cornes, brothers Justin and Matthew Westhoff and cousins David Rodan and Alipate Carlile.

Coach Mark Williams, whose own brother Stephen is involved with the club, said he would continue to look for more members to add to the Power’s family-friendly tradition.

“I get a lot of warmth seeing brothers and cousins out there together. We’re really keen to be able to continue that family theme and I know in the future there will be other opportunities for us to try and continue it,” Williams said.

“We’ll look at those opportunities because there have been some fantastic families come through the Port Adelaide system and they’ve held the club in good stead.

“I was lucky enough to play in an era when the Krakouer brothers played and everyone talked about their bat-like ability to use sonar to find out where the ball was going because they were always on the end of it.

“I’m fully supportive of Shaun kicking to Peter - I think that would work out well for us most times - and the Westhoff brothers kicking to each other and now the Motlop’s; it’s just a great thing.”