PORT Adelaide coach Matthew Primus has afforded the 'kids' at Alberton ample opportunity this season as part of the club's big-picture approach to selection.
The Power have unveiled five debutants, Jasper Pittard, Cam O'Shea, Ben Jacobs, Simon Phillips and rookie Jarrad Irons, and given much-needed game time to inexperienced players Hamish Hartlett, Matt Broadbent, Andrew Moore and Matt Lobbe.
However, being young doesn't guarantee you a game under Primus, as 21-year-old midfielder Mitch Banner has discovered.
Banner burst onto the AFL scene last year, playing 10 games in his second season at the club, but has been limited to only four appearances, including twice being a substitute in 2011.
He's been one of Port Adelaide's best-performed players in the SANFL, averaging 25 possessions and four inside 50ms a game for the Port Magpies.
He's been named as an emergency for the Power on no fewer than 10 occasions, but up until three weeks ago his defensive skills had prevented him making the final step into the starting 21.
Like more experienced players Danyle Pearce and Kane Cornes, who were both left out of the team for a similar reason earlier in the season, and the rest of his teammates Banner had to meet Primus' demands for a team approach to defence in order to earn - and keep - a spot.
"It's been a tough year, playing at the Maggies for the most of the season even though I've been playing all right," Banner told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"I've been working with the development coaches at the Maggies, improving the defensive side of my game each week.
"In under-18s it's all about attack. You just want to get a kick to hopefully get yourself drafted by an AFL club.
"It's required a change in mentality since I've been here at Port, and has gone up another level with Matty this year.
"Now, it's about tackling, getting back to help out the defenders and putting pressure on the opposition to help the team.
"That's pretty much what I model my game on now. I figure if I'm doing the defensive stuff and helping the team out the offensive stuff will come."
Banner, who starred with three goals against Melbourne a fortnight ago, says he's also benefited from a change in SANFL clubs.
The former Western Jets star fell out of favour at former club Woodville-West Torrens last year, and struggled to get a regular league game.
The Power were forced to pluck him from the Eagles' reserves to play against North Melbourne in round 13, prompting Banner to seek a transfer to the Port Magpies during the offseason.
In all, it's been a tough initiation for the former third-round draft pick, who missed much of his first season at the club with a fractured forehead.
Despite the challenges, the level-headed Victorian is settling into life in Adelaide, having recently purchased a house, which he shares with his girlfriend, and applied to start a university degree in law.
He hopes owning his own house will allow his parents, whose names he has tattooed on the inside of his wrists, and his sisters to visit him in Adelaide more often … just not all at once.
"I got the tattoos a while ago. They [my wrists] are probably the easiest spots to look at when things are down, I just look at mum and dad's names," he said.
"I've moved out of my host family and have a house with a spare bedroom now, so that will give mum and dad more of a chance to come over and visit.
"Although, I've got four sisters as well, so it's still difficult to get everyone over."
