#24 Damon White

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#24 Damon White, drafted by Andre and also allocated to nivek48 for the 2008 season.

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v149/66/63/668067098/n668067098_286312_6206.jpg

Height: 193

Weight: 94

Date of Birth: 16th August 1983

Nickname: Whitey

Contract Details: Expires end of 2008

Position: Centre Half Forward

SANFL Club: North Adelaide

Recruited From: Perth (Pick 62 in the 2001 National Draft)

Career Games: 49 (25 wins, 1 draw, 23 losses)

Career Goals: 44

For more career stats click here (http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/D/Damon_White.html).


2007 Statistics

Games: 13

Goals: 10

Kicks: 119

Marks: 94

Handballs: 51


More info on Damon White

[nivek48]

I have Damon as my allocated player...

After a fine start in 2007 ... Damon fired first up vs Freo and we thought 'at last', he fell away playing only 13 games and had knee/thigh injury and was not considered for finals.

Damon has played 49 career games in 6 seasons and it was possibly that ankle break in his first year here that put him back in development. He was shopped around in trade week this season, with Western Bulldogs having a look but Damon allegedly failed a medical and they lost interest.

Damon is contracted until end 2008 and at age 24 is probably now only being considered a back-up forward/defender, unless he demands selection with dominant SANFL games.

At times has performed well but needs impose himself more on a game, IMO.

Good luck in 2008, Damon.

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[nivek48]

With Chappy out with a broken hand, Damon has stepped up as a defender in the last 2 games and by all reports has done well!

He may well bring up game 50 if Chappy doesn't make it in Round 1 vs Geelong.

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Damon White may be on his way back for Port Adelaide
By Michelangelo Rucci
Advertiser
February 26, 2008 10:25am

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23276212-12428,00.html

Port Adelaide's search for a new defence has Damon White following Toby Thurstans from regular forward to the back six.

And the Power is hoping All-Australian Chad Cornes does not get drawn into the vortex.

The make-up of Port's defence - in the wake of full back Darryl Wakelin's retirement and long-term injury to Michael Wilson - is the biggest curiosity for those looking in at Alberton.

Complicating the jigsaw puzzle is the loss of centre half-back Troy Chaplin, the new cog for the Power back six, for the entire pre-season with a broken hand.

Port coach Mark Williams tested White, who, after a stop-start career cursed by leg injuries, has been a hit-or-miss performer in attack, in the Power's experimental defence against Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

It is a sign Port's planning for season 2008 is being challenged.

But Thurstans, a member of Port's 2004 premiership attack, yesterday cast off the external fear Port's defence will not have enough time to settle this pre-season. Or, not be settled and primed for the demanding grand final rematch with Geelong in the AFL season-opener at AAMI Stadium on March 20.

"Unfortunately, we don't have 'Chappy' (Chaplin) for the next few weeks," said 27-year-old Thurstans, now the so-called "elder statesman" of the Power defence.

"But (Michael) Pettigrew and (Alipate) Carlile and I played a fair bit the second half of last season and got to know each others' games pretty well.

"Having (Jacob) Surjan and Peter Burgoyne again back there will let us settle down quickly.

"It is difficult without 'Chappy', particularly after we earmarked him as one of the players of our future.

"We experimented with Damon White at the weekend - and he showed some glimpses of doing a job if need be."

Port's defence has lost 261 games of AFL experience in Wakelin's exit and 187 with Wilson trapped in the medical room recuperating from a snapped Achilles.

"You walk taller with those guys out on the field," conceded Thurstans.

"And they earn respect from the opposition, as well as their teammates by the way they played.

"But while (Wakelin) is gone, he did mentor a lot of young guys (and has stayed at the club as a board member). And Wilson) is still here. So we can draw on them."

But the ultimate measure of Port successfully structuring a new defence will be how long Chad Cornes - who has been trained to play as a forward this season - stays out of the back six.

"That sits well with us," Thurstans said. "We didn't have Chad at all last year. He might have started the first half of the first game (in defence) but we didn't have him always back there.

"He was occasionally a spare man (in defence), which worked well for us. But we'll rely on Chad to play on-ball - and no matter where he plays, he will have an influence."

Thurstans, starting his 10th year at Alberton, senses others are looking at him for leadership in a recast defence.

"Being one of the older guys now," said Thurstans, "you have to direct the younger guys, install the values and responsibilities we want to push around the club. Just lead by example.

"I want to put my hand up to take a lot of the senior opposition players," Thurstans said, who worked against Sydney premiership captain Barry Hall on Saturday night.

"If I take that role, it will allow the other guys to work into their positions."

[nivek48]

White won't look back
ZAC MILBANK
March 03, 2008 12:00am

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23308710-5016212,00.html
SUDDENLY Damon White has found his swagger. And rewarded his club for its patience at the same time.

Port Adelaide's much-maligned key forward is transforming himself into an unlikely rebounding defender and the affect is two-fold.

Not only is White filling a defensive need for the team - in the absence of injured Troy Chaplin - he is finding another niche for himself at the opposite end of the field.

And, perhaps for the first time in his stop-start 49-game career, his confidence is starting to soar.

"I'm really excited by what I see - he was fantastic. he really looked at home back there," former Power midfielder Josh Francou said. "When he's up forward he tends to go into his shell and doesn't exude any great confidence. Down back he really had that swagger about him."

After showing promising signs from the backline a week earlier against Sydney, White stepped up a notch in his side's 35-point win against Collingwood on Saturday.

Providing plenty of dash from defence, White chalked up 17 disposals, the highlight being a lace-out pass inside 50m which hit five-goal star Shaun Burgoyne on the chest. As places in the Power's talent-laden attack become harder to secure, it seems the versatile 24-year-old could have found himself a new posting.

"I think so - he looked great on the weekend," White's team-mate Brett Ebert said. "He's worked pretty hard with (defence coach) Adam Kingsley and a few of the other backline players. He looked very comfortable, so he might have found his spot."

Having played alongside White across the half-forward line, Ebert has become accustomed to reading the West Australian's body language. And after speaking with White after the match, Ebert senses the move could be the catalyst in unearthing the best he has to offer.

"He was pretty happy with his game," Ebert said. "It's just being able to run at the ball and not have too many worries. You just have to man someone up, watch him and then run off.

"He's got a good kick and a big motor so I think that can help him too.

"He'll be working even harder in all the backline meetings and settling down there. It's just his versatility for the team. We know he can play forward and kick a few goals but to have him in defence, with Troy Chaplin injured, it's a bonus for us."

Pleased with his output of two goals in his first outing for the season, Ebert said it was important for Port to regain that winning feeling.

"We've had two losses the past couple of weeks so it was important to have a good win and set ourselves up for a win this week (against Fremantle) and in round one," he said.

While Shaun Burgoyne showed what he can do if left up forward, the improvement in Danyle Pearce's delivery, with the majority of his 33 disposals, was equally stark.

Rookie-listed Nick Salter displayed his talent, sinking a 55m set shot before half-time while ruckman Fabian Deluca showed promise, working against accomplished Magpie Josh Fraser.

Tough defenders Matt Thomas (corked thigh) and Nick Lower (corked buttock) reported soreness but are expected to be fit to face the Dockers at Noarlunga on Saturday.