Power's Off, Westhoff's On | Thebigtip

Port Adelaide's season has been dismal to say the least as they sit on 2 wins and 9 losses with a percentage of 68.27%. Barely anything has gone right and to add to their on field problems, they have now resorted to taking $9 million from the AFL to pay off debts. Their wins have come against the disappointing Adelaide Crows and the $400,000 mistake game up in Darwin against the Richmond Tigers; not much to boast about.

What Port Adelaide does have is a few talented kids. Unlucky for them, they are stuck fighting a losing battle week in week out, exemplified by their final term against Carlton on Sunday where they couldn't add a single score against Carlton’s 7 goals and 4 behinds in a game that they were winning at halftime and still very much in the contest at the final break. Unfortunately for Matthew Primus it was another week watching an uninspired team with little bite. With that said, you can always find a positive if you look hard enough.

Justin Westhoff, if memory serves me right, was quite the up-and-comer in the year that was 2007 where a united Port outfit would make the Grand Final, only to be decimated by Geelong who were miles ahead of the competition. In his first year, Westhoff managed 16 games to kick 34 goals. Not a bad effort for a lanky kid taken with pick number 71 in the national draft. He was one of the reasons Port Adelaide got as far as they did, adding another dimension to the forward line.

Within the year, he would receive a rising star nomination along with the award for Port Adelaide’s Best First Year Player. In the following years, he wouldn’t match his impact in games as much as he did in 2007 and fell into obscurity as he was omitted early in 2010 before being brought back and finding a bit of form. At 80 games and at 24-years-old, he has cemented himself into a bored Port Adelaide team. In 2011 alone, he has averaged 16.9 disposals, just under 7 marks (while coming 2nd in total marks in the AFL), 2 tackles and 3 hitouts a game. He seems to be everywhere on the field. Not only has hespent more time through the midfield but he is kicking more goals than in previous years, sitting on 15 already. To say that he is pulling his weight is an understatement.

The Power need to start putting together a team that can help Westhoff instead of hindering him. Port Adelaide have talent, but the gap between the good and bad is far too large. Those who are meant to be setting the game alight, such as Danyle Pearce, Kane Cornes and Daniel Motlop, are doing nothing of the sort. Jasper Pittard, Robbie Gray and Travis Boak have risen to Westhoff’s level, but a few players do not make a competitive team. I respect the changes Matthew Primus has made in terms of personnel, but the facts remain the same.

Port Adelaide hold the record for the first team to lose to the Gold Coast Suns. In 2011, they will be remembered in a negative sense which is unfortunate for Justin Westhoff who has strived to be nothing but positive.