Benalla’s Joe Berry pushing his case for round one AFL debut for Port Adelaide

By Alexander Dabb

Feb 6, 2025

Benalla product and former Bushranger Joe Berry could find himself lining up for a round one debut, with the young gun impressing during the pre-season at Port Adelaide. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A productive summer has seen Benalla product Joe Berry impress at Port Adelaide, with all signs pointing towards a round one debut.

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The number 15 pick in last year’s AFL Draft has turned heads at Alberton over the pre-season, with Power premiership player and hall of famer Chad Cornes, who now serves as the club’s forward line coach, heaping praise on the small forward.

“Joe Berry in particular is a guy who, in my mind, will play straight up,” Cornes said a fortnight ago when speaking about the club’s draftees after a training session.

“He’s a really smart half-forward who’s got great running ability and uses the ball well.”

The comments echoed the sentiment of skipper Connor Rozee, who before Christmas singled out Berry and a fellow Goulburn Valley product as ones to watch heading into 2025.

“The exciting thing for me is you look at our draftees – Joe Berry and Jack (Whitlock) look like they’re going to be stars,” Rozee said.

“I’m really excited to get into some match play and see what they can do.”

And with the first of Port’s match simulations taking place last week, both Cornes and Rozee seem to have been proven right in their estimations of the speedy Berry.

If lining up on the ‘A’ team alongside established guns such as Zak Butters and Mitch Georgiades — the only draftee to do so — wasn’t a surefire indication of the Port Adelaide hierarchy’s belief that Berry was ready to play round one, his output laid rest to any lingering doubt.

The 18-year-old left footer slotted two goals, with The Advertiser reporting Berry also showed glimpses of his ability to venture into the midfield, bursting through the centre at times before showcasing his speed in a run-down tackle to earn himself a holding-the-ball free kick on the wing.

Port Adelaide will play Adelaide in an unofficial match simulation at Mount Barker on February 21, before travelling to Victoria to take on St Kilda at RSEA Park as part of the AAMI Community Series on March 1.

The Power get their AFL season under way against Collingwood in round one on Saturday, March 15, and if the early indications hold true, Berry will be getting a taste of prime time Saturday night footy at the earliest opportunity.