Many good AFL footballers have been born outside of the city limits and the football world just might’ve discovered another one in Melbourne last weekend.
Former South Clare colt Nick Salter made his AFL debut for Port Adelaide Power on Sunday at the Telstra Dome and delivered the goods by nailing two goals in the first half before St Kilda won the game by eight points.
There was a huge amount of pressure on Nick leading up to the game with the media coverage he was receiving after he was informed on the Wednesday before the game that he would be replacing Power skipper Warren Tredrea at centre-half-forward.
Come to think of it the gurus were probably fairly surprised when a lad who had played for the Woodville-West Torrens Reserves side the week before, and was still on the rookie list, was elevated to the hardest position on the field in the most elite competition on the continent.
What the gurus from the big smoke failed to mention was that Nick has been playing in the League side all season except for that day Power coach Mark “Choco” Williams went to have a look at him as he sent home eight goals six behinds for the game.
By the time Sunday came around and Nick ran out onto the Telstra Dome there weren’t too many signs of nerves as he handled the situation like a player that had been there plenty of times before.
The first decent opportunity Nick had to get into the game was a typical centre-half-forward situation where he was going for a contested mark only to be crunched by his team-mate Justin Westhoff.
At the 16-minute mark Nick dished out a good bump and got his first touch of the footy. A minute later he gathered the footy beautifully on the half volley, swung around and delivered to Westhoff.
Entering the time-on period Nick used his body with a good shepherd allowing Brett Ebert to mark but the son of Russell missed the target.
The big moment came with 26 minutes on the clock when Nick provided the option with a good lead, Nathan Lonie hit him with the pass and Nick sailed it straight through the high diddle diddle from 60 metres out. What a way to register your first goal in the AFL.
The scores were level at quarter time with Nick having a big influence on the game which Choco mentioned in the huddle.
At the one-minute mark of the second term Nick went for another contested mark where the fifty-metre arc and the boundary line join. Saints defender Brendon Goddard came up from behind and cracked him in the back of the head in an apparent attempt to spoil.
The umpire awarded Nick with the free but he didn’t look as if he’d be able to get up and take the kick as he laid there motionless on the shifting turf.
He did get up, was given the footy, went back, sized up the options for about a second, then looked at the big sticks in the distance, unloaded with another great kick and sailed home his second major for the game. This time from the boundary line 55 metres out from goal.
A few minutes later Channel Seven’s man of many words, Dennis Cometti, made the comment that Nick Salter had done enough for two men.
With 12 minutes on the clock Nick applied a good tackle causing a turnover finishing with a rushed behind that the Power turned into a 7-point play when Dean Brogan goaled following the kick-in from full-back.
Four minutes later Nick took a good mark forward of the wing, delivered a great pass to Westhoff who marked and bombed to full-forward but it went through off hands for a behind.
Unfortunately for Nick his game came to an end a couple of minutes later when the knock on the head he received from Goddard forced him to the rooms with concussion.
Soon after, Channel Seven’s other commentator, David Schwartz, said Nick’s unknown ability could catch opposition teams unaware in the future.
During the half-time break Dennis Cometti said Nick Salter was the story of the day and another Channel Seven commentator, Tim Watson, said Nick could develop into a good AFL player with his strength and long kicking.
Approaching the final siren Dennis Cometti said that Nick Salter was terrific early.
It was a great debut from Nick considering the expectations that were put on him leading up to the game and his parents Doug and Helen are naturally very proud of him. They did inform the Northern Argus that Nick was making a good recovery from his knock to the head on Sunday.
Nick passed the toughest test any debutant could have playing football and it looks like Port Adelaide Power have unearthed a future centre-half-forward that will have a fair dinkum crack.
Well done Nick, you’ve made the Clare Valley proud.
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