Rozee Rates his Rooster Experience

By ZAC MILBANK

North Adelaide draftee Connor Rozee has his sights set on being a ”damaging” AFL midfielder for Port Adelaide. 

And the impressive 19-year-old says his SANFL finals experience with the Roosters – which culminated in the historic Grand Final win in front of 40,355 at Adelaide Oval – has laid the ideal foundation to thrive at elite level.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday after being awarded the Round 3 AFL NAB Rising Star nomination, Rozee said playing under such immense pressure against men in the SANFL had allowed him to hit the ground running as an elusive forward for the Power.

The South Augusta FC product kicked five goals while racking up 21 disposals and seven marks in Port’s narrow loss to Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night.

After starting as a medium forward for North last year, Rozee was shifted into defence at the end of the minor round, showing off his outstanding versatility during the Roosters’ remarkable run in September.

And while he’s causing plenty of headaches for opposition coaches in attack this year, Rozee is adamant he can capture his best form playing through the centre square as he did in winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal for South Australia at the U16 AFL National Championships in 2016.

The loyal teenager is also keeping a close eye on his premiership team-mates, spotted in the grandstand at Woodville to see North’s Round 1 Preliminary Final rematch against the Eagles.