Power’s big man on radar of rivals

PORT Adelaide ruckman Peter Ladhams has drawn interest from clubs including the Western Bulldogs, Geelong, Sydney and Hawthorn as the Power put a high price on their contracted ruck-forward.

But the Hawks would need to lose 30-year-old Jon Ceglar before they ramped up their interest in the 23-year-old Power key position player.

Port Adelaide football boss Chris Davies said last week it would take something “significant” for the Power to lose a player contracted for 2022.

Whether Ladhams can find a new home could affect whether Port Adelaide makes a move for Greater Western Sydney’s Jeremy Finlayson this trade period.

Finlayson, 25, has approached the Power about a potential move in the wake of him and his partner, who is from South Australia, having their first child.

The Power are yet to decide whether they will pursue Finlayson, who is still contracted at the Giants.

But if Ladhams does find a new club, and it is understood the Power will not actively push him, then there is a view that Finlayson could play a similar sort of role for Port.

He kicked 44 goals in the Giants’ run to the 2019 grand final and can ruck as well.

Port had told Ladhams it viewed Scott Lycett as its No.1 ruck right now.

The Power are also excited about youngster Sam Hayes, who won their SANFL best and fairest award last week.

Ceglar has been told by Hawthorn he might have to look at options as it seeks to give more ruck time to younger players including Ned Reeves.

The Western Bulldogs would be a perfect landing spot for Ceglar given he would bridge the gap between Tim English and Stef Martin, who will play next year as a 35year-old.

Hawthorn football director Richie Vandenberg on Monday said the club would look at all opportunities including trading players to improve its draft hand.

Ceglar would not be in the club’s premiership window if he stayed at the club so it would be smart business to move him out for a younger ruckman or picks.

Ladhams is keen to get to a club that could see him as a first ruckman after being told he could explore his options at his exit meeting.

But clubs like Brisbane and St Kilda seeking cut-price ruck back-ups would be priced out of the market for Ladhams, who is in the last year of a three-season back-ended deal next year.

Similarly trading him to Geelong would make less sense given the Cats have resigned Rhys Stanley on a twoyear deal and have Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins, Esava Ratugolea and Gary Rohan playing as key talls.