PTV: What Choco Said
Hartlett started brilliantly against the Sydney Swans at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night, picking up 10 possessions and a goal in the opening term.
The 19-year-old copped a corked thigh early in the second quarter, but played out the game and finished with 25 possessions, three clearances and a goal.
The Power’s highest-ever draft pick has been dogged by injury since joining the club at the end of 2008, but Williams said he was hopeful Hartlett would grow out of his soft-tissue strains.
“Hamish Hartlett was outstanding for a guy that was basically on one leg and kicking with his left foot. He just kept working really hard,” Williams said.
“He’s an out-and-out potential star and the only thing that is stopping him is injury…hopefully that’s just (to do with) his age.”
Hartlett was one of the few shining lights for Port Adelaide on Saturday night, with the Swans finishing on top in most aspects of the game.
Brett Kirk, Kieran Jack and Nick Smith held Travis Boak, David Rodan and Danyle Pearce to fewer than 20 possessions each and Williams said his star trio needed to get better at handling heavy tags.
“Sydney shut down some of our midfielders as they do and it made it really difficult,” he said.
“We had to bring some different people in there (the midfield) and I thought in the third quarter we got some things going, but the absolute class of our midfield didn’t shine through.
"We’d like to think we could get more out of that, but at the moment we haven’t.”
Rangy second-year utility Jackson Trengove also copped a corked leg, after lunging in front of Swans big man Shane Mumford.
Trengove finished with modest statistics of nine disposals, two marks and a goal but vice-captain Jacob Surjan said the 19-year-old was a perfect example of the attitude he wanted his team to play with.
“That was one of our younger players doing that (getting in front of Mumford)," Surjan said. "I think Jacko’s played 10 games and he’s just that sort of kid.
“He’s going to be a great player for us and he’ll put his body on the line 100 per cent for the team.
"If we have a lot of guys like him we’re going to be very successful in the years to come.”
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