Port's Great White Hope

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Thread starter Moderator #1
Article on Damon White from today's Tiser.

Port's great White hope
By ANDREW CAPEL
14nov03

IN November last year Damon White was delivered the devastating news that his damaged ankle would need re-pinning, threatening his career.

On Wednesday – almost a year later to the day – the highly-rated but relatively unknown key position player started pre-season training with Port Adelaide, hell-bent on resurrecting a career which has been horribly derailed.
For the first time in nearly two years White has started training on equal terms with his team-mates. And his focus is not merely on rehabilitation but on forcing his way into the Power side for round one next year.

"It's about time I showed our supporters what I can do and why I'm here," a forthright White, 20, said. "The club's put a fair bit of faith in me in the past two years so hopefully I can repay it. I'm looking forward to doing that."

White, a strapping 194cm and 92kg, is, to outsiders, one of the great unknowns at Port.

Drafted from WAFL club Perth with the No. 62 pick at the 2001 national draft, he has not played an AFL game, despite being close. Four times last year he was named as an emergency.

Those close to the club however know White, who has had three operations on his left ankle since joining Port, could make a difference at Alberton.

He has untapped potential and possesses the ability to take a big mark and kick a long goal. If fit he could provide valuable support for key forwards Warren Tredrea and Chad Cornes as well as giving the Power another tall defensive option. But all revolves around getting his ankle right.

"I think I've turned the corner with that (injury)," White said.

"Things are going pretty well now. I played 18 games (13 league) with North Adelaide last season and the ankle (which he first broke in round five, 2001) has held up pretty well.

"Everything's going to plan.

"There doesn't appear to be any lasting problems and I'm looking at peaking (fitness-wise) by January and getting stuck into the pre-season games.

"There are a few spots up for grabs I suppose and there's going to be a lot of guys really trying to perform during the pre-season to take them. Hopefully I can get one of them."

White said he feared for his career when told his ankle, which had been broken and dislocated in a marking contest in the SANFL in 2002, would need re-pinning. "Some doubt did start to creep in," he said.

"It was frustrating sitting on the sidelines for so long and, being operated on three times, they (doctors) weren't really sure what was wrong with it and had to keep fiddling around with it to get it right so, sure, I was concerned. But I got through and everything is correct and feeling good now."

Port fitness manager Andrew Russell described White's ankle as "in good shape".

"He is significantly better than we thought he would be a year ago," he said. "His speed is getting back to where it was and endurance-wise he's probably running as well as he ever has."
 

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#4
Well he survived a rigorous penalty shoot-out at the Adelaide United game tonight, it's a good start!:D

However Tredders did not fare so well, bloody woeful Warren!:p
 
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