Some Port Adelaide fans believe young rebounding defender Jasper Pittard costs the Power crucial games. Other fans believe he’s the next big thing.
Pittard was drafted in the 2009 National Draft with pick 16. In his first year at Port Adelaide he played for Sturt in the SANFL and could not crack into the top side.
The skinny defender made his debut in the first round of the 2011 season. He went on to play 12 out of the first 13 games for that season but was cruelled by injury.
He didn’t return return to the senior line-up until Round 20.
In his debut year, Pittard was rewarded with a rising star nomination for a 25-disposal performance in an inspirational Showdown win during Round 4. The man formerly known as McMillian-Pittard consistently had games where he recorded more than 15 disposals, showing promising signs to the depressed Port Adelaide fans.
The galloping gazelle managed to play 17 out of a possible 24 games in 2013 which was a great return, considering previous seasons. He also set a career high amount of disposals, 27 against GWS in Round 2.
On paper, it looks as if Pittard is having a great year. In 2014 he has a disposal efficiency of 75 percent and is averaging 17.5 disposals. He is also second at Port Adelaide for rebound 50s, only four behind Matthew Broadbent.
The majority of Power fans still prefer Pittard to be dropped. Statistically Pittard averages 2.2 clangers a game but that doesn’t reflect the frustration he creates among the Alberton crowd.
Pittard continually creates pressure situations and is known for his poor decision making.
Kane Cornes recently said even the players give him stick about his decision making on field. Pittard is also known to be the player who receives the most sprays behind closed doors from his mentor and coach Ken Hinkley.
He is known to continually kick the ball poorly to create fifty-fifty contests or punt a grubber which turns into ten players jumping onto the ball resetting Port Adelaide’s running game by creating a stoppage. Although creating stoppages can be an understandable option in certain circumstances, Pittard creates these situations weekly more than necessary.
It seems like all of Adelaide Oval takes a deep breath when he tucks the ball in and takes long strides from the back line as he attempts to weave through opposition players. When he does get through to the attacking 50, he seems to burn the ball by either being tackled or handballing laterally into a pressure situation.
It seems like Hinkley feels the same. During the pre-match coverage on Channel Seven for Port Adelaide’s match up with Hawthorn, there was a recording of Ken Hinkley telling Pittard to “defend hard” as “it’s the key thing for you (Pittard).” The Power coach went on to tell him “if you (Pittard) defending hard, I (Hinkley) live with the other stuff okay.”
When Pittard is on song, it’s because he is operating well defensively. Last Showdown, he took seven marks while rebounding from 50 seven times along with three inside 50s.
The positive of Pittard’s game, is that he is a risk taker and is not afraid to the take the game on. As a player who has only played 46 games, he will get better by learning from mistakes as he matures with AFL experience.
There is no point of him playing at SANFL level as he currently showing good numbers at AFL standard. The only reason to play him for the Port Magpies would be to get confidence back as he most likely would dominate, and as outsiders we do not know how much confidence he currently has.
Will Pittard reach his true potential?
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