Justin Westhoff kicked four goals in Port Adelaide's win over the Crows. Picture: Reed Sarah Source: The Advertiser
THERE has not been a more significant transformation in a player at Port Adelaide in the past year than what we've seen in Justin Westhoff.
Few players in the current team at Alberton have polarised supporters like Westhoff, but the big man has silenced his critics once and for all.
As bizarre as it seems, he has a serious case to be leading the Brownlow Medal after three rounds this season.
It has been an unbelievable turnaround from a player who at times looked disinterested last year.
In July, 2012, as the Power slipped into another season of despair, commentator Tony Shaw criticised not only Westhoff's performance but his attitude as well.
"Non-competitive" and "lazy", Shaw said to describe his efforts.
"Doesn't put his body on the line and I don't think he's got a great competitive spirit," Shaw said.
That criticism should now be gone forever.
His 24-disposal, four-goal performance on Sunday aside, there was one telling moment in the fourth quarter of the Showdown win over Adelaide which typified what Westhoff and his resurgent club stand for this season.
With 10 minutes remaining and the Power clinging to a 12-point lead, Westhoff charged full-steam at a 50/50 ball on the ground. He went through head-first while his Adelaide opponent stood there and watched.
Westhoff won the footy, Port Adelaide went inside 50m and Ollie Wines kicked the game-sealing goal.
In one single act of desperation, Westhoff despatched every critic who had been on his back for years.
New coach Ken Hinkley has not only reinvented Westhoff, he has inspired him again.
In his three games this season, Westhoff is averaging 22 disposals, 10 marks and just over three goals - and the Power remains undefeated.
So often criticised externally for appearing to cruise through games without making an impact for a man of his size (199cm and 96kg), Westhoff is imposing himself and playing with the desperation his team has lacked for years.
And if you're into SuperCoach, Westhoff is proving the bargain buy of 2013 by averaging a whopping 135 points per game which is positively Gary Ablett-esque.
If nothing else, that will get the fans on side.
So while it's crucial not to overlook the rapid improvement in Travis Boak, Hamish Hartlett and Brad Ebert, the emerging brilliance of Oliver Wines, Chad Wingard and Jake Neade, or the smart off-season recruiting of Campbell Heath, Lewis Stevenson and Angus Monfries, Westhoff is the man.
In full flight, he is arguably the Power's most important player.
Geelong premiership player Cameron Mooney last week said in just six months Hinkley had turned Westhoff from a talented player "floating without direction" into one of the most versatile big men in the competition.
Hinkley's pre-season promise to fans was that his side would not give up this year.
And when Westhoff is the bloke leading the charge with Port four goals down on Sunday, you know the message is being heard in the changerooms loud and clear.
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