ALTHOUGH Port Adelaide lost its opening match against the Adelaide Crows, the Power pushed the most successful team in the competition nearly all the way, resulting in what could be one of the biggest signs of their development as a group.

After a slow start which saw their opposition put on three goals to one in the first quarter, Port Adelaide pushed back, scoring three more in the second quarter to go into half-time eight points down.

Although the Showdown Medallist, Ebony Marinoff, was monumental for her side, it was Port’s Janelle Cuthbertson that lead the charge for her side alongside youngsters Shineah Goody, Abbey Dowrick and Sachi Syme.

Having played 17 games from her debut in Round 1 of Season Seven, Sachi Syme has been a regular in the team, missing only three games while being on Port Adelaide’s list.

Building her game season upon season, Syme averaged just 5.4 disposals in her first season, 7.1 in her second and now after just one game this year she’s more than doubled that.

Her performance in Saturday night’s Showdown was a career-best, announcing her arrival in the competition duly.

Sachi Syme Statistics vs Adelaide

Disposals: 18 (13 contested)

Marks: 3

Tackles: 6

Clearances: 6

Metres gained: 330 metres

Syme, normally listed on the interchange or starting the game at half-forward, played an impressive game when stationed in the midfield last weekend. She played 76 per cent time on ground and had the highest disposal count of the team.

What was even more astounding was that Syme has never had more than nine disposals in a game before and she hit double digits easily. Her average time on ground last season was only 67.8 per cent, which was as low as 58 per cent during some matches.

She will seemingly be played in the midfield rotation heavily with the loss of young midfielder Hannah Ewings who is on the inactive list this year.

Ewings was an invaluable contributor to the team the last two seasons as an inside-outside midfielder. In her breakout season in Season Seven, she averaged 75 per cent time on ground and amassed 13.9 disposals, 4.9 tackles, 3.9 clearances and 294.9 metres gained.

Syme can fill this role and then hopefully with some continuity in her role and football, she can contribute with Ewings next season in the next step forward for the young midfield.

For Syme, more time in the midfield against the competition’s elite ball-winners will be invaluable to her development as a young player. In addition to that, time spent with one of the toughest contested midfielders in Kirsty Lamb, will go a long way to bringing in Port’s young midfield brigade.

During the preseason, she spoke about how coming into the league at 17 years-old, she felt like it was a ‘massive jump’ for her personally. With this one game as the jumping off-point for her third season, she could really embed herself in the best midfield for Port Adelaide going forward if she gets some consistency of form.

Initially drafted by Port Adelaide because of her ferocity on field and physicality, paired with good disposal efficiency and the ability to run out games, Syme could be one of Port Adelaide’s most valuable players. Stating pre-season that she’s looking to become more of a leader, she will be one to watch if Port Adelaide is serious about finals.