ON SUNDAY afternoon David Rodan will return to the place where his second-chance in football began.
In round one last year, Rodan made his Port Adelaide debut against Fremantle at Subiaco and took the first step in his quest to prove he could still cut it at AFL level.
Rodan, who was dubbed ‘recruit of the year’ after being taken with the last ‘live’ pick (86) in the 2006 NAB AFL Draft, went on to play all 25 games in his first season with the Power, including the Grand Final.
The dashing Fijian mesmerised fans with his explosiveness, fierce tackling and dancing feet and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension in August.
The former Tiger, who was unceremoniously informed of his delisting by skipper Kane Johnson at the club’s best and fairest ceremony in 2006, sat more comfortably at the Power’s night of nights and took out the club’s most improved player award as well as finishing sixth in the John Cahill Medal count.
This week Rodan will write another chapter in his remarkable comeback when he lines up for his 100th AFL game; a milestone he wasn’t sure he’d get the opportunity to reach just 18 months ago.
“I didn’t think my career was done there at Richmond and I’m still on a quest to get better and to hopefully play for a bit longer,” Rodan said.
“Coming to Port Adelaide and playing well wasn’t so much about proving anyone wrong, but I had the belief in myself that I had a few years of good footy left in me.
“I was rapt to come over here [Adelaide] and to get a second chance. I just wanted to show that I still had a little bit more left in me and to also play some good footy.
“The club has really embraced me and given me great opportunities to show my wares.”
Rodan, still just 24, is confident he will continue to improve in the coming years and says he’s regained faith in his body after undergoing a full-knee reconstruction three years ago.
The popular midfielder has become a valuable member of the Port Adelaide line-up but, if Rodan’s rollercoaster ride to Alberton has taught him anything, it’s not to take anything for granted.
“I try and make the most of every training session and every game now,” he said.
“Being delisted by Richmond made me have a good look at myself and made me realise I’m pretty lucky with what I’ve got.”
Rodan was the first Fijian to play in the AFL when he debuted in 2002 and has since been joined by cousin and Port Adelaide teammate Alipate Carlile.
Rodan, one of the game’s genuine nice guys, is an ambassador for Aussie Rules Pacific and is the idol of exciting Fijian teenager Nicholas Naitanui, who is tipped to be the top pick in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.
“He looks like a real talent,” Rodan said of Naitanui, a product of Swan Districts in Perth.
“It will be great, not only for him, but for football in Fiji if he does get drafted by an AFL club and I’m sure there are plenty more kids just like him still running around in Fiji.”
Rodan’s name will be plastered alongside that of Kane Cornes when the Power run through the banner on Sunday, with Cornes celebrating his 150th game.
Cornes, who has played 114 of those games in succession, said the 150-mark was, hopefully, just one milestone on the way to 300 games.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing a lot of games of AFL footy. Probably not for Port Adelaide [being the son of inaugural Crows coach Graham Cornes], but the way it’s turned out has been terrific,” the 25-year-old said.
“It’s David Rodan’s 100th this week too, which is a terrific milestone for a guy who has been injured and hasn’t had everything run his way.
“I’m looking forward to celebrating that with him. Port Adelaide usually wins milestone games, so hopefully this one is no different.”
