Player Watch Welcome to Port Adelaide Pick #15 (2024) - Joe Berry

[Chachi]

This kid looks nothing of a footballer. What an absolute waste of a pick, Murphy Reid or not, this kid aint it.

Shits his pants any set shot at goal, fumbles, slow, non reactive.

What did we see, honestly.

Karl Amon says hi.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

This kid looks nothing of a footballer. What an absolute waste of a pick, Murphy Reid or not, this kid aint it.

Shits his pants any set shot at goal, fumbles, slow, non reactive.

What did we see, honestly.

Lol you’re writting him off after what 3 or 4 games?

Such a shame it hasn’t been 4 BOGs lol

Maybe wait a few years before calling it a waste?

 

[VineValerian]

Berry took a while to shine in the under 18 comp but eventually starred in it. Hopefully after a bit of grounding playing against men in the AFL and SANFL he'll hit his staps soon. Unlike Jacobs, Berry has only looked pleased to be on our list. His character far exceeds Jacobs and he has much more pace and flair than suck-face Jacobs.
As things look now we should have taken Murphy Reid, who was always highly rated but for some reason slid a long way. I have not given up on Berry and see a lot of potential still.

Do you honestly think that, in our cluster**** of a game plan, that Reid would be playing at the level he is now?

 

[PortAdelFC1997]

Do you honestly think that, in our cluster**** of a game plan, that Reid would be playing at the level he is now?

Reid reads the ball well.

 

[240volt]

Do you honestly think that, in our cluster**** of a game plan, that Reid would be playing at the level he is now?

If Reid is doing ok playing for a fk’d up side like Freo he would be good anywhere.
Talent is talent no matter what(example Butters).

 

[Blinky Nyland]

Do you honestly think that, in our cluster**** of a game plan, that Reid would be playing at the level he is now?

No. I, like you, think any youngster would stuggle to play near their potential in our side at the moment. On exposed form Murphy has exceeded Berry's but I am not one who has written Berry off and hope that Berry can match or exceed Murphy's showing. You have picked a fight with someone who actually agrees with you.

 

[LeoMessi]

Just checking, has Reid won the game off his own boot yet?

 

[rogerjames]

I'm surprised you are usually not one who throws the skirt over their head and gives up on a player this early.

I dont think anyone is giving up & most see he has some talent. For me he was the wrong choice for reasons I've already stated. But to reiterate some, I'm sick of Port recruiting uncontested type footballers. And he's small & we have many small players.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I can only go by the range of highlight clips, but Berry doesn't look uncontested at all. He's a typical rover, often working in packs and at contests to win the ball.

He's small but at least he's not slight and will will build up to a good size. I'm hoping Carr will let the players into the weights room.

 

[rogerjames]

I think most of the negativity comes from the fact we over paid to get to Berry, like we did with Sinn (mind you Sinn was a monsterous cost in comparison), and to most of us he was sold as a mercurial, ball winning, small forward with a nous for goals.

What we've seen from Berry is nowhere near that, he's a pacy, line breaking wingman, who shirks contact a bit, with some nice ball use (though has been nervously missing targets).

This causes the problem, because another flanker Amon/Farrell type which he is, is not what this club needs, and it is what our recruiters keep getting sucked into. Que PTSD dog.

At the same time, the ball winning, clever small forward, to future mid type, we really needed was available at our pick, went a couple picks after us, and kicked 2 bags of 4 goals in his opening 11 AFL games.

View attachment 2325429

We can't write Berry off, he'll still play a lot of AFL footy, but the hope he'd be a quality small forward looks to be fading. He really screams Amon/Farrell type, and so lets hope from wing or half back he really develops over summer and starts to make that spot his own in 2026.

Perfect summation. But at 180cm he's a bit short for winger & flanker roles imo.

 

[rogerjames]

I can only go by the range of highlight clips, but Berry doesn't look uncontested at all. He's a typical rover, often working in packs and at contests to win the ball.

He's small but at least he's not slight and will will build up to a good size. I'm hoping Carr will let the players into the weights room.

I'm referring to what I've seen at Afl level. Agree he looks a different player in his highlights package. Just hope he can bring that effectiveness to the highest level. Im annoyed (with the recruiters choice) because we dont have time for this transition to take too long, we need an influential player straight away given our draft hand. Its not fair on Berry but thats the position the club has left us in. I'm looking for quick fixes.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

I can only go by the range of highlight clips, but Berry doesn't look uncontested at all. He's a typical rover, often working in packs and at contests to win the ball.

He's small but at least he's not slight and will will build up to a good size. I'm hoping Carr will let the players into the weights room.

Sounds a bit like the 178cm Josh Carr.

 

[rogerjames]

I was watching some of his under 18 highlights. Reminds me a bit of a young Robbie Grey when he was playing up forward, wonder how he would go leading up to the ball as a forward at this level.

My understanding was we recruited him for that role as it was correctly identified as a weakness given our lack of quality small forwards (Rioli excepted).

 

[rogerjames]

Freo did to us what Essendon also did to us in 2021 with the Sinn pick

I hope it doesnt play out the same coz Sinn has been a bust in terms of output relative to cost.

 

[rumoursofwinter]

He's been underwhelming at afl level so far but he should be fine. He's not slight or uncontested. He's more of a hard working pure footballer.

 

[Chrizzt]

I hope it doesnt play out the same coz Sinn has been a bust in terms of output relative to cost.

I've got almost the opposite view. I had originally written Sinn off as a bust, but he's showing some real glimpses of talent this year, which has me thinking I should be patient with Berry.

 

[Rash]

I hope it doesnt play out the same coz Sinn has been a bust in terms of output relative to cost.

luckily for us, ben hobbs is a bust as well

 

[rogerjames]

luckily for us, ben hobbs is a bust as well

Sinn has some very good attributes but if u cant get on the park they turn to dust. He played 6 games in 2024, lets see how many he plays in 2025. Hes still young (22) so he may yet turn into a solid output player for us but patience is not my strong point.

In reality PA cant afford to obtain mediocrity from our first round picks. We havent had the FS talents some other clubs have based their success on, the free ride some clubs get from Academies & the benefit of cheap trading (in fact we've generally paid a high price for our trades). We have to get it right & get it right quickly if we want to compete for flags.

 

[rogerjames]

I've got almost the opposite view. I had originally written Sinn off as a bust, but he's showing some real glimpses of talent this year, which has me thinking I should be patient with Berry.

I'm referring to his output due to injury. Even in some of the games he's played over the last few years he has sometimes looked very slow which I'm sure has been due to body issues.

I like the type of player Sinn is as he has lovely kicking skills & usually makes good decisions with disposal but he has no durability.

 

[240volt]

My understanding was we recruited him for that role as it was correctly identified as a weakness given our lack of quality small forwards (Rioli excepted).

That was my take on it also, small forward to replace Rioli.
He doesn’t look the goods in that role, now they are going to have to find another spot for him.
Another flakey flanker incoming? Hopefully not.

 

[RossFC]

Berry's goal vs Westies (Playing half back/wing).
View attachment 2025-06-09 03-15-57.mp4

 

[Addy23]

That was my take on it also, small forward to replace Rioli.
He doesn’t look the goods in that role, now they are going to have to find another spot for him.
Another flakey flanker incoming? Hopefully not.

He absolutely will be fine in that forward role. We just don't have patience and we were stuffing him around early days between AFL, SANFL then AFL sub now we are putting him back in defence? It's a gross mismanagement of an 18 year old AFL player.

Like most here (perhaps being the most vocal on draft day fwiw), I wanted another player too but that doesn't mean this kid doesn't have talent. We also can't expect every first round draftee to come in and impact straight away. Sometimes they take time. Our ball movement across both levels doesn't suit him either

 

[240volt]

He absolutely will be fine in that forward role. We just don't have patience and we were stuffing him around early days between AFL, SANFL then AFL sub now we are putting him back in defence? It's a gross mismanagement of an 18 year old AFL player.

Like most here (perhaps being the most vocal on draft day fwiw), I wanted another player too but that doesn't mean this kid doesn't have talent. We also can't expect every first round draftee to come in and impact straight away. Sometimes they take time. Our ball movement across both levels doesn't suit him either

For me he screams bog average, not saying he won’t make it at AFL level in some capacity but only as a foot soldier.
Definitely nothing special,if he doesn’t make it at AFL level I can see him more likely returning to Victoria to play VFL.

 

[AlbertPower]

They're putting him in defence to allow him to improve his defensive game. He, like Lorenz, lack in this area.

 

[Lefti93]

They're putting him in defence to allow him to improve his defensive game. He, like Lorenz, lack in this area.

Maybe right about about both of them, but the fact Ken has played blokes with little attacking skill has always bitten him in the ass in big games.