Key defender Kyle Marshall will remain at Alberton next year after being offered a lifeline on Port Adelaide's SANFL list following his AFL delisting.
The 20-year-old was cut from the Power's AFL list in October after two years at the club without an AFL appearance.
Originally from South Adelaide, Marshall was taken with Pick 59 in the 2022 National Draft and played 30 games for the Magpies while on Port Adelaide's AFL list.
Under the SANFL's new recruiting rules for the competition's two AFL clubs, the Magpies and Crows can sign six local players under the age of 21 to their SANFL lists.
Marshall will be eligible to line up for South Adelaide's reserves side should he miss selection at Port Adelaide.
Standing at 201cm, Marshall has been a key pillar in the Magpies' defence, averaging four marks and two rebound 50s per game in 2024.
Primarily a lockdown defender, Marshall has played negating roles on some of the competition's best forwards over the past two seasons.
Perhaps his best performance came in Round 13 this year against North Adelaide, holding eventual Ken Farmer medallist Mitch Harvey to just one mark and two goals for the game.
Speaking to the Port Adelaide website, Marshall said he is pleased to be staying at Alberton and remaining in an AFL environment.
โKnowing the Port Adelaide environment after spending two years here makes it a comfortable transition for me to go into the SANFL program,โ Marshall said.ย
โI am pleased to be getting another chance at Port Adelaide and to play alongside mates I've made since I began here.โ
Port Adelaide's Head of SANFL Paul Stewart spoke glowlingly of the attributes Marshall has already developed in his time at Alberton.
โThis opportunity will give Kyle the best chance to continue developing as a player by remaining in an AFL environment,โ Stewart said.ย
โKyle's agility, vertical leap and running capacity are key traits of his game. He also possesses good reach, allowing him to get from contest to contest.ย ย
โIt is a testament to his good character that he's able to move on from the disappointment of being delisted and back himself in to have another crack at it.โ
Marshall is the latest of several key players to join Port Adelaide for 2025, following Central District defender Jez McLennan, Woodville-West Torrens half-back Rome Burgoyne and North Adelaide midfielder Oli Francou.
