Justin Westhoff
Encyclopedia
Justin Westhoff is a footballer currently playing for the Port Adelaide Football Club
in the AFL
. He also plays for Central District in the SANFL
. He is the older brother of Matthew Westhoff
, who also plays for the Power and Central District.
Westhoff was selected by Port Adelaide in the 2006 draft
using their fifth round pick, being the 71st pick overall.
Westhoff was recruited to play as a ruckman
for Port Adelaide, but has consolidated himself as a key forward.
When drafted into the Power, Westhoff's appointed player-mentor was skipper Warren Tredrea
.
On 17 April Westhoff was controversially suspended for two games for high contact on North Adelaide captain Darryl Wintle
during Central District's 7 goal defeat of the Roosters in Round 1 of the SANFL. The suspension effectively prevented him from playing for three weeks, as Central District had a bye during that period.
On 3 June Westhoff's consistent goal kicking dominance at local level saw him make his AFL debut for Port Adelaide against Hawthorn. In an eventful debut he performed strongly, booting three goals (including two from his first two kicks) to become the first Power player to register a trio of majors on debut. Westhoff was also reported for charging the Hawks' Clinton Young
in the last quarter, however this was later dismissed by the match review panel, as they deemed the contact unintentional and unavoidable.
Westhoff had his career best game against the West Coast Eagles
in round 15 on 14 July kicking four goals, including two from contested marks on eventual All-Australian full back
Darren Glass
. Power coach Mark Williams
praised the performance by calling his forward line work 'brilliant'. Westhoff's performance was further recognised with the AFL rising star nomination for Round 15. He has equalled his personal best 4 goal haul 6 times, but never has scored as many points in a game as Round 15, 2007.
Westhoff's strong season ended up in him finishing 4th in the 2007 AFL Rising Star competition gathering a total of 10 votes. He was also recognised with the Gavin Wanganeen Medal
and the Best First Year Player award at the Power's club champion venue.
Westhoff played in Port Adelaide's losing AFL grand final side of 2007 at the MCG. His opponent on the day, Matthew Scarlett had 30 possessions while Westhoff was unable to have any impact on the game, frequently being pushed off in contests due to his slight stature. This prompted him to bulk up in following years to hopefully improve his contested marking abilities and allowing him to frequently kick bags of goals.
The 2008 season saw Westhoff play a different role to the 2007 season in which he played more up the ground, unlike the previous season where he played a lot closer to the goals. As a result, Westhoff's goal kicking average saw a decline, only managing 22 goals in 21 games for the season, however this role increased his average of disposals up from 8.9 to 11.3; and marks
up from 4.6 to 5.7 a game.
On 7 May Westhoff signed a three year contract extension to stay with the Power until the end of the 2011 season.
At one stage, Westhoff was also dropped from the Power's lineup in the round 13 game against the Richmond Tigers due to poor form. However he found his way back into the side the week after, by kicking 3 goals for the Central District.
Averaging 2.5 goals a game in the preseason, Westhoff was named in the Power's starting 18 against the Bombers for round 1, where he performed strongly kicking 3 goals, and picking up 15 disposals (including 10 marks). However, in round 2, he fractured his foot and was out for six weeks, being placed on the long-term injury list. He returned in round 11 after a late withdrawal from Robert Gray
, and despite not having played any games since the injury, still managed to kick two goals, as well as 16 disposals (including 10 marks). He finished the season kicking 20 goals in 13 games.
who retired. He proved himself to still be a valuable part of the Power's forwardline, dominating in Showdown XXVIII, leading the Power in goalkicking with three goals in the third quarter. His scoring efforts put the game out of reach of the Adelaide Crows. After Round 10, 2010, he was dropped due to a poor performance in the previous game. In the return match of Showdown XXIX, he returned to his form of early in the season with four goals that gave the Power the win. He carried this form into the following week's game against Hawthorn, in which his strong performance earned him a spot in the AFL Team of the Week.
In round 4 of 2011, Westhoff won the Showdown Medal
.
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
in the AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. He also plays for Central District in the SANFL
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
. He is the older brother of Matthew Westhoff
Matthew Westhoff
Matthew Westhoff is an Australian rules footballer who played for Port Adelaide in the Australian Football League . He is the brother of fellow Port Adelaide player, Justin Westhoff....
, who also plays for the Power and Central District.
Westhoff was selected by Port Adelaide in the 2006 draft
2006 AFL Draft
The 2006 AFL Draft is a recent national draft of the Australian Football League. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League....
using their fifth round pick, being the 71st pick overall.
Westhoff was recruited to play as a ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
for Port Adelaide, but has consolidated himself as a key forward.
AFL career
Born in Eudunda South Australia Westhoff lived here until age 3. He then moved to a town called TanundaWhen drafted into the Power, Westhoff's appointed player-mentor was skipper Warren Tredrea
Warren Tredrea
Warren Gary Tredrea is retired Australian rules footballer with the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League . A forward, tall and weighing , Tredrea is the son of former Collingwood and Port Adelaide player Gary Tredrea.Tredrea was zone selected for the inaugural Port...
.
On 17 April Westhoff was controversially suspended for two games for high contact on North Adelaide captain Darryl Wintle
Darryl Wintle
Darryl Wintle is an Australian rules footballer who played with Adelaide in the Australian Football League .Wintle trained at the Kangaroos but it was reigning premiers Adelaide who picked him up in the 1999 Pre-Season Draft, with the third last selection...
during Central District's 7 goal defeat of the Roosters in Round 1 of the SANFL. The suspension effectively prevented him from playing for three weeks, as Central District had a bye during that period.
On 3 June Westhoff's consistent goal kicking dominance at local level saw him make his AFL debut for Port Adelaide against Hawthorn. In an eventful debut he performed strongly, booting three goals (including two from his first two kicks) to become the first Power player to register a trio of majors on debut. Westhoff was also reported for charging the Hawks' Clinton Young
Clinton Young
Clinton 'Clint' Young is an Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Hawthorn Football Club. He was recruited from Minyip-Murtoa and North Ballarat U18's. Young made his debut at AFL level in Round 16, 2005....
in the last quarter, however this was later dismissed by the match review panel, as they deemed the contact unintentional and unavoidable.
Westhoff had his career best game against the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
in round 15 on 14 July kicking four goals, including two from contested marks on eventual All-Australian full back
Fullback (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, the fullback position has traditionally been a purely defensive role, with the aim of preventing the full-forward from marking the ball and scoring. However, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of defence and down the field quickly has become a more...
Darren Glass
Darren Glass
Darren Glass is an Australian rules footballer for the AFL's West Coast Eagles. He wears number 23 guernsey.He was recruited as the number 11 draft pick in the 1999 AFL Draft from Perth...
. Power coach Mark Williams
Mark M. Williams
Mark "Choco" Williams is a former Australian rules footballer who coached the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League from 1999 to 2010...
praised the performance by calling his forward line work 'brilliant'. Westhoff's performance was further recognised with the AFL rising star nomination for Round 15. He has equalled his personal best 4 goal haul 6 times, but never has scored as many points in a game as Round 15, 2007.
Westhoff's strong season ended up in him finishing 4th in the 2007 AFL Rising Star competition gathering a total of 10 votes. He was also recognised with the Gavin Wanganeen Medal
Gavin Wanganeen Medal
The Gavin Wanganeen Medal is an award presented by the Port Adelaide Power to its best player under the age of 21. The award, struck in 2006, is named after Gavin Wanganeen, a former champion with both Port Adelaide and Essendon who, by the age of 21, had won a SANFL premiership with Port Adelaide,...
and the Best First Year Player award at the Power's club champion venue.
Westhoff played in Port Adelaide's losing AFL grand final side of 2007 at the MCG. His opponent on the day, Matthew Scarlett had 30 possessions while Westhoff was unable to have any impact on the game, frequently being pushed off in contests due to his slight stature. This prompted him to bulk up in following years to hopefully improve his contested marking abilities and allowing him to frequently kick bags of goals.
2008–2009
The 2008 season saw Westhoff play a different role to the 2007 season in which he played more up the ground, unlike the previous season where he played a lot closer to the goals. As a result, Westhoff's goal kicking average saw a decline, only managing 22 goals in 21 games for the season, however this role increased his average of disposals up from 8.9 to 11.3; and marks
Mark (Australian football)
A mark is a skill in Australian rules football where a player cleanly catches a kicked ball that has travelled more than 15 metres without anyone else touching it or the ball hitting the ground....
up from 4.6 to 5.7 a game.
On 7 May Westhoff signed a three year contract extension to stay with the Power until the end of the 2011 season.
At one stage, Westhoff was also dropped from the Power's lineup in the round 13 game against the Richmond Tigers due to poor form. However he found his way back into the side the week after, by kicking 3 goals for the Central District.
Averaging 2.5 goals a game in the preseason, Westhoff was named in the Power's starting 18 against the Bombers for round 1, where he performed strongly kicking 3 goals, and picking up 15 disposals (including 10 marks). However, in round 2, he fractured his foot and was out for six weeks, being placed on the long-term injury list. He returned in round 11 after a late withdrawal from Robert Gray
Robert Gray (Australian rules footballer)
Robert "Robbie" Gray is an Australian rules footballer currently contracted to the Port Adelaide Power in the Australian Football League . He also plays for West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League ....
, and despite not having played any games since the injury, still managed to kick two goals, as well as 16 disposals (including 10 marks). He finished the season kicking 20 goals in 13 games.
2010–2011
The 2010 season saw Westhoff play as a ruckman, in a position made vacant by Brendon LadeBrendon Lade
Brendon Lade is a former Australian rules footballer who spent his entire AFL career with the Port Adelaide Football Club.- Early Career :...
who retired. He proved himself to still be a valuable part of the Power's forwardline, dominating in Showdown XXVIII, leading the Power in goalkicking with three goals in the third quarter. His scoring efforts put the game out of reach of the Adelaide Crows. After Round 10, 2010, he was dropped due to a poor performance in the previous game. In the return match of Showdown XXIX, he returned to his form of early in the season with four goals that gave the Power the win. He carried this form into the following week's game against Hawthorn, in which his strong performance earned him a spot in the AFL Team of the Week.
In round 4 of 2011, Westhoff won the Showdown Medal
Showdown Medal
The Showdown Medal is the medal awarded to the player adjudged best on ground in the Showdown AFL match between Adelaide and Port Adelaide. It is thus similar to the Ross Glendinning Medal awarded in Western Derby games....
.