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Power's Indigenous group ready to star on big stage
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
9:15:16 AM
By Sam Lienert
ADELAIDE, September 26, 2007: Some of the names have changed since 2004, but Port Adelaide's band of Indigenous players are again preparing to produce some grand final heroics to drive the Power to another AFL premiership.
In the club's first flag, it was the dash of Norm Smith Medallist Byron Pickett, top possession-winner Peter Burgoyne and four-goal hero Gavin Wanganeen that cut the Brisbane Lions apart.
Wanganeen and Pickett are gone, but Peter and Shaun Burgoyne remain, while former Kangaroo Daniel Motlop and youngster Danyle Pearce have since joined the brigade.
All possess the Aboriginal hallmarks of pace, agility, skill and flair in abundance that make them potential game-breakers on Saturday.
Along with Fijian-born ex-Richmond player David Rodan, who the tight-knit group acknowledge as an honorary "brother", they have been urged to use those attributes to defeat the Cats on Saturday.
"It's a big stage, come to perform, the sun's out, it's dry, use your speed, take them on, chase, tackle, do everything you've been doing," Shaun Burgoyne said of the message coach Mark Williams had delivered to the Indigenous group.
"Just play with freedom, basically ... we've got to take that confidence into the game, take them on at all costs.
"We've got a lot of speed around the ball, in the backline and up forward, so use your speed."
That message was reinforced by Wanganeen, a regular visitor to the club in recent weeks, who has urged the Indigenous players to believe in themselves.
Burgoyne said the message sunk in coming from Port's inaugural captain, who was also the AFL's first indigenous 300-gamer, a two-time premiership player and Brownlow medallist.
"He's been there, done it ... he just reinforces basically everything the coaching staff here have been saying, but for it to come from a champion player, it's pretty big for a lot of the players here," he said.
When asked where the Power might have an edge against the Cats, both Burgoyne brothers answered "speed", with Shaun noting it was a tremendous asset in finals, given the tackling pressure ramped up a notch.
"It's a contested footy game, contest after contest, stoppage after stoppage and then you need that (speed) to burst out and break games open," he said.
Interestingly, the Burgoynes have swapped roles since 2004, with Peter shifting to the backlines and younger brother Shaun to the midfield.
Peter Burgoyne, who was shifted into defence midway through this season, said the move came at his instigation, as he was becoming "stale" in the midfield.
"I said I would like to play there, but in a couple years time, but it's come around a bit quicker than expected," he said.
He has proved a revelation in the attacking backline role, helping him rejuvenate his career, after he played just 10 matches last year before requiring surgery after his right hamstring tore from the bone.
At one stage, the injury had the 29-year-old contemplating retirement.
"I had the operation, there was no guarantees that I would come back ... I was probably pretty close to chucking the game away," he said.
"I just thought it wasn't worth it, the body was no good, but I stuck in there ... hopefully I can play for another three or four years, even five, who knows?"
Burgoyne said he believed Shaun had been under-rated this season, particularly in light of his 37 goals.
"You tell me any (other) on-baller in the league that's kicked (almost) 40 goals this year, I think S. Burgoyne's the only one," he said.
But, surprisingly, he nominated youngsters Pearce and Rodan as the players whose contribution would be most telling on Saturday.
"Myself personally, I think if Danyle Pearce plays well and David Rodan plays well I think the whole team plays well," he said. - AAP
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