World Footy News

There has been a number of stories doing the rounds that Port Adelaide's young key defender, Fijian born Alipate Carlile was keenly sought after by several AFL clubs.  But in some of the best news for a while at the club Port Adelaide has announced today that he has inked a new deal with the Power.

The following is a press release from the Power.

On the back of Jackson Trengove’s signature last week, Carlile’s commitment to Port Adelaide will help shore up the Power’s key defensive posts for the long-term.

The man affectionately known as “Bobby” has played 90 games since arriving at Alberton via the 2005 AFL National Draft as a third round selection (no. 44 overall).

The 24 year-old made his AFL debut in Round 16, 2006, against St Kilda in Launceston.

Carlile, who was born in Fiji, won the Wanganeen Medal in 2008 as the best under 21 player at the Power and enjoyed an outstanding 2010 coming third in the Club best and fairest award.

Such was his development last season, his team mates voted him into the Club leadership group for season 2011.

Port Adelaide senior coach Matthew Primus says he’s delighted to have Carlile commit to the future of the Club on top of Trengove’s signature last week.

“It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to sign both Bobby (Carlile) and Jacko (Trengove) in the last week,” said Primus.

“Bobby is very important to our structure and a lot of time and effort has gone into his development since he arrived at the Club.

“He’s now at the stage of his career where he’s ready to become a very good backman for us and continue to take on the opposition’s best tall forwards,” said Primus.

Primus says Carlile has developed outstanding leadership skills since being promoted into the leadership group at the start of the season.

“Bobby has evolved very much into a leader of our young group of defenders,” said Primus.

“He’s got a great character and personality and is a real competitor. We look forward to Bobby passing on those characteristics to the rest of our group.”

Carlile says he that there was no doubt he would stay at Alberton.

“I love this footy Club, love the supporters and love everything this Club stands for, so it was a pretty simple decision for me to stay on,” said Carlile.

“Matty (Matthew Primus) has been amazing this year in the way he’s kept the group together in such a difficult season. I’m extremely confident in the direction he’s taking us and with the amount of young talent we have on our list I’m very excited about our future and I want to be a part of it,” said Carlile.

Carlile says the extra responsibility of being part of the leadership group has been very rewarding.

“Although I’ve had an up and down year personally I’ve really enjoyed taking on extra responsibility in helping out younger players like Jasper (Jasper Pittard) and Butch (John Butcher) in their development. Spending time with some of the younger players has been very rewarding and helped develop my own leadership skills this season,” said Carlile.

Carlile says he’s delighted that his good friend Jackson Trengove has also committed to the Club.

“Jacko (Jackson Trengove) and I spoke regularly about where the Club is going and what we can do to help the Club move forward,” said Carlile.

“Now with both of us signing hopefully it gives our supporters confidence in the direction our young group is heading and that we want to stay together as a group to build something very exciting.”