With Dom Cassisi’s retirement leaving competition for a hard headed midfielder in Port Adelaide’s 22, there are two young guns that seem to have the credentials.
Currently Tom Logan looks to be the perfect short term replacement for Cassisi. Like the former Port Adelaide captain, Logan bashes through packs to get the ball. He also lacks speed, however he has a great defensive side to his game. He certainly is not a one-dimensional player.
At the age of 29, Logan is not a long-term option for Port Adelaide. As Ken Hinkley has previously said, Logan is a “survivor.” His spot on the list always seems to be in danger at the end of every season but he does enough to earn an extra year on his contract.
The experience of Logan’s 116 games may help lead the Power over the line in the run home of season 2014.
One option to fill Cassisi’s shoes is Andrew Moore.
In one of my first articles of the year, I predicted Andrew Moore to have a breakout season. He is a top ten draft pick and played 17 games last year.
This year, Moore has only played one game as he has struggled to find a spot in Hinkley’s team due to the inclusions of outside runners Matt White and Jared Polec. He has also been in rehabilitation due to injuries.
Last year Moore had similar numbers to Cassisi in certain areas and has shared comparable roles.
Cassisi and Moore both averaged 16 disposals, 9 kicks and 7 handballs during their fourth seasons of AFL. The two also shared similar marking averages and tackling numbers for their respective fourth years.
A big difference between the two players is that Cassisi played more in the defensive half in the latter stages of his career whereas Moore simply is just a big-bodied midfielder.
The player in pole position to take Dom’s spot is Ben Newton. After performing well for more than a season in the Port Magpies, Newton finally debuted in Round 7 after being drafted in 2010.
Newton gathered 15 disposals in his debut. He has made two more appearances since, both times as the substitute.
Newton came into the game during the third quarter of the Round 12 match against St Kilda. He was impressive with 12 disposals and was unlucky not to kick his first AFL goal.
Newton’s most recent game was on the weekend. He was swapped for Matt White at three-quarter time and had six disposals.
Newton has not had enough game time to draw statistical comparison between him and Domenic Cassisi although it’s clear he shares a similar hunger for the ball which Cassisi had.
Domenic Cassisi was a great custodian to the Port Adelaide Football Club, can someone live up to his club first standards?
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