Kane Mitchell has quickly become one of the fittest players at Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
KANE Mitchell wants to be Port Adelaide's on-field answer to Ben Cousins.
The man who sports the hairdo made famous by Carlton premiership player Tom Alvin grew up idolising the 2005 Brownlow Medallist and models his hard-running game on him.
"Being from WA, Ben Cousins was a huge hero of mine," said Mitchell, Port's impressive rookie-list midfielder who has come from the clouds this pre-season to eye a round one start.
"He was just a tireless worker and I see myself in the same kind of ilk as a player on the field."
Mature-age pick-up Mitchell, 23, has emerged as a genuine chance to play for the Power in round one after a stellar pre-season where he has set the track alight with his speed and endurance, shone in a trial game and been among Port's best in the NAB Cup.
Short for a modern-day midfielder at just 174cm - "my grandfather was a jockey," he said - Mitchell is a ball of muscle who has quickly become one of the fittest players at the club.
His elite endurance skills and ball-winning ability helped him match West Coast star Matt Priddis' record Sandover Medal tally last year (58 votes) and play a key role in back-to-back premiership wins with WAFL club Claremont.
His chance at the big time could come soon.
The Power is considering promoting him - his lookalike Darren Pfeiffer appears the other main option - to the senior list for the injured Nick Salter, who has been placed on the long-term injury list with foot stress fractures.
"It's unfortunate that Salts is on the long-term injury list because every time he's on the track he trains the house down but it might present an opportunity for one of our four rookies (Danny Butcher and Justin Hoskin are the others) to get elevated," said Mitchell.
"I want to play AFL - being on a senior list has been a goal of mine - but I've just got to make sure I continue to work hard and we'll see what happens."
The No. 5 selection at the December rookie draft says he has taken to AFL training "like a duck to water". As for his trademark long hair, Mitchell makes no apologies for his occasionally untidy look.
"I shaved my head in Year 12 and I looked terrible, so I thought I'd better grow it," he said. "I've had the long hair for five years now and it seems to work.
"My dad's pretty much bald so I'm going to keep it until I start going bald too."
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