An AFL debut is "coming" for Port Adelaide mid-season recruit Brynn Teakle, who flourished in his first game with the club's SANFL side on Saturday.
The East Fremantle product booted three goals from 13 disposals in the Magpies' 17-point win over Central Districts, with Teakle also recording 11 hit-outs, seven marks and three clearances for the match.
Speaking to the club's website after his Port Adelaide debut, Teakle was ecstatic with the victory, crediting the club's open arms since joining earlier this month.
“It was absolutely sick…it's good to get a win with the boys, it was a close game for most of it, but we kicked away in the end,” Teakle said.
“I'm over the moon.
“...The boys have been really good and welcoming, and I'm loving my time here already, it feels like I've been here for six months already."
The performance comes quite timely for Power coach Ken Hinkley, who opted to select no recognised ruckmen in last Thursday's loss to Richmond.
Emerging tall Sam Hayes was omitted to the reserves, where he recorded 33 hit-outs and 17 possessions in sharing the ruck workload with Teakle.
Hinkley will now need to weigh up his ruck options for this weekend's matchup with Sydney, who will likely name ex-Power tall Peter Ladhams for the encounter.
Ladhams' exit from Alberton at the end of last year may have left Port Adelaide ruing the departure, with first-string ruckman Scott Lycett still sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained in Round 4.
Hayes was handed a debut the following week against Carlton, playing seven successive matches before being dropped for the clash with Richmond.
Port Adelaide's match committee will now be needing to consider a reprieve for Hayes or potentially handing Teakle a debut, with the Power needing to bounce back after recording just 18 hit-outs against the Tigers.
"The temptation to play Brynn Teakle will certainly be there," Power assistant Brett Montgomery told media on Monday.
"He’s an infectious character since the day he’s arrived and he’s fitting in really well.
"His performance was really good. Whether it’s this week or not, it’s coming."
Montgomery did praise the pairing of Charlie Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson, who were makeshift ruckmen for the Power in Round 13.
"I thought the Finlayson and Dixon combination probably gave us the best look we’ve had in quite some time," the Power assistant said.
"We were looking for a bit more bite in some areas other than just hit-outs, and I thought Jeremy brought that in spades."
The Power will be forced into at least one change, with veteran Trent Dumont suffering a significant calf injury against the Tigers.
Like Teakle and Hayes, forward Mitch Georgiades stuck his hand up for a senior return in booting four goals against Central Districts.