Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak can't help but chuckle at the instant impact of draftee Sam Powell-Pepper on the AFL club.
It was the West Australian's first training session at Alberton after being drafted last November.
As Boak puts it, the teenaged Powell-Pepper "put Hamish (Hartlett) straight on his arse".
"And then, not long after, he dropped Ollie (Wines) as well," a grinning Boak said on Monday.
Powell-Pepper is among a trio of likely debutants for Port's daunting season-opener against Sydney on Saturday, along with upgraded rookies Brett Eddy and Dan Houston.
And Powell-Pepper, who turned 19 in January, looms as the standout of the fresh crop.
"He's a really special kid," Boak said.
"He's super-mature for his age. And he's pretty quiet, he's a guy that goes about his business.
"He just loves the contest really, he just loves footy. And they're the guys you want in your group.
"As soon as he's out on the field he just wants to compete and he doesn't care who gets in his way which is what you want from an 18-year-old coming into your side."
Powell-Pepper is among the reasons why Boak disagrees with pundits who tip Port to finish mid-rung on the ladder.
"I have no doubt that this group is good enough to match it with the best sides," said Boak, who will play his 200th AFL game on Saturday.
"It's about doing it consistently and that is the thing we have spoken about: if we can do it consistently we can match it with the best sides.
"But if you don't rock up every week, then you're going to be challenged by it doesn't matter who it is, the top side or the side down the bottom."
