Time for Lewis to deliver on promise

Lewis Stevenson in action for the West Coast Eagles. Source: PerthNow

HIS kicking has been compared to Brisbane Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis.

His size, athleticism and playmaking ability have drawn comparisons with Hawthorn premiership defender Grant Birchall.

Now new Port Adelaide defender Lewis Stevenson has vowed to finally deliver on his undoubted promise.

Speaking for the first time since being traded to the Power from West Coast in October, Stevenson said he is ready to be the playmaking architect of a new-look Port defence, which has lost 415 games in experience while bringing in just 21.

Mainstays Troy Chaplin, Danyle Pearce and Jacob Surjan are out. Stevenson, Campbell Heath, Jack Hombsch and rookie Tom Clurey are in.

"I just can't wait for the opportunity to prove myself," said the 23-year-old Stevenson, who played just 10 games in five years with the Eagles and none in the past two years.

"I felt I deserved to play with West Coast this year but its backline was so solid and settled with Shannon Hurn, Beau Waters, Adam Selwood, Darren Glass and Sam Butler that I just couldn't get in.

"So when Port offered me an opportunity to play I jumped at it. I'm really grateful that Port first looked at me and then showed confidence in trading for me and now I'm looking forward to showing what I can do.

"You don't often get a second chance to prove yourself and I've been given one. I want to repay Port for that."

The WA forward-turned-defender - physically gifted at 189cm and 88 kg - played all 10 of his AFL games in 2010 but has starred for WAFL club Claremont in the past two years, playing in consecutive flags.

Former Eagles assistant coach Peter Sumich, who is now at Fremantle, has compared Stevenson's elite kicking to Akermanis's.

"His kick and his skill level is his biggest asset," said Sumich. "He's got the skills of Jason Akermanis, I reckon, left and right foot."

The Power - one of the worst kicking teams in the AFL in the past two years - monitored Stevenson's performances in the second half of the season and made its move in the trade period.

He was a part of a three-club trade which saw Port get Stevenson, Melbourne get David Rodan and draft picks exchanged.

"The Power's told me it has been looking for a bit of a ball user down back, so I'm here to play that role," said Stevenson.

"Kicking is one of my strengths, so while my defensive duties will come first I'll then be charged with getting hold of the ball and using it well out of the backline.

"I've had a chat with Ken (new coach Ken Hinkley) and they're looking to use me at half-back, so I'll be doing everything possible over pre-season to put myself up for selection."

The Power's told me it has been looking for a bit of a ball user down back, so I'm here to play that role

Stevenson, who only joined in full pre-season training yesterday after recovering from end-of-season hernia surgery, is the obvious playmaking replacement for Pearce, who joined Fremantle as a free agent.

Stevenson said he now felt comfortable in the back half after spending the past two years learning the art following the Eagles' decision to turn him into a defensive playmaker.

"The position doesn't come naturally to me, so I've spent a lot of time on my defensive skills, my bodywork and my positioning," he said.

"I feel I'm ready to show Port that now."

Power football manager Peter Rohde said Stevenson "comes very highly recommended by football people in Western Australia".

His WAFL coach Marc Webb described Port's trade as "great".

"Lewie was in our best six-to-eight players all year in his defensive work and ability to run off and his skills are excellent," Webb said.

"But he just couldn't get that (AFL) opportunity because West Coast had a glut of those players.

"He will be a great trade for Port because he's a ready-made player, personality-wise he's a great guy, very coachable, he works his heart out and he can play on mid-range and small players."

With so many list changes, Stevenson noted the Power's backline would be "re-shuffled" next year and built around key defenders Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile.

"They'll be the leaders and we'll play our roles around them," he said.

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