19 year old Noongar midfielder Sam Powell – Pepper has been named  as the AFL’s Rising Star  nominee for Round One.

Taken with pick 18 in the November draft, Powell – Pepper had 19 disposals, seven clearances and five inside 50’s to go with his two goals in Ports 28 pint defeat of Sydney on Saturday.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley (pictured)  says the Powell – Peppers debut match and subsequent nomination has all at the club confident they’re on the right track in 2017.