Rejected Rodan Set For A Fairytale Finale

The Sunday Age

Sunday September 23, 2007

Lyall Johnson

ABOUT a month ago, Melbourne caretaker coach Mark Riley said: "There's not a lot of fairytales in footy, if you look over the journey there's more sad endings than fairytales".

That might have been the case that night, when the Demons failed to get over the line in David Neitz's 300th game, but he forgot about David Rodan.

Few other players this year could make the claim, but Rodan's journey has all the ingredients of a fairytale.

This time last year, the diminutive midfielder from Fiji made headlines for all the wrong reasons when his delisting from Richmond was announced, along with that of Thomas Roach and Jeremy Humm, by skipper Kane Johnson at the club's best and fairest function.

Last night, Rodan played a major role in taking the club that had thrown him a lifeline, Port Adelaide, to its second grand final in four seasons.

That he was delisted by Richmond in the first place surprised many Tiger fans, for he had been a fair servant for the club and well-liked at Punt Road. That it was made public before the club had made the announcement angered even more.

In the eyes of many, Rodan was extremely hard done by in that he seemingly had not been given a chance to prove himself after he had recovered from the knee reconstruction that kept him on the sidelines for the whole 2005 season. He was given only five games last year, making little impact.

Richmond's football director, Greg Miller, said last week the club believed Rodan had lost confidence and "just didn't feel he was playing a direct brand of footy. We didn't feel he was going to be part of our next premiership group".

Last night, Rodan proved Richmond wrong on the first point, and next Saturday, when Port takes on Geelong, he could prove them wrong on the second. That Rodan started in the midfield yesterday ahead of the likes of Shaun and Peter Burgoyne is testament to how well he is playing this year and how highly he is regarded at Alberton Oval. And in no time he had made his mark on the game.

Rodan had a direct hand in Port's first three goals. The first he shot a slick handball out of the centre to Shaun Burgoyne who drilled it into the Power's forward line. The second he was involved in a string of handballs along the half-forward line then kicked the ball to the top of the goal square where Chad Cornes marked.

The third he kicked himself after receiving a handball from Brendon Lade, before "goose stepping" past an opponent, finding a gap and goalling from short range.

By the 12-minute mark Rodan had collected six possessions, including two centre clearances.

Such was his dominance he was paid a massive compliment when Dean Laidley moved Ed Lower onto him in a heavy tag. It quietened his game somewhat, but not totally, because when you run as hard as Rodan eventually the ball finds you, or more likely, you find the ball.

Midway through the second quarter, Rodan found the ball deep in the forward line. He was again on the scoreboard with a major.

Then in the third he was instrumental in another goal, firing a handball out of the centre, the ball ending in the hands of Warren Tredrea, who snapped a brilliant goal and turned to the crowd and took a theatrical bow. It was a great goal, but Rodan deserved as much credit.

Soon afterwards Rodan laid a crunching tackle that knocked the ball free to Chad Cornes who did a post-goal victory dance. That, too, was as much Rodan's.

By game's end Rodan had 22 touches and two goals, having played the type of "direct football" demanded of his former teammates at Richmond. And after the final siren, it was interesting to see that of all the Power players, he was congratulated most affectionately by the Kangaroos.

This time next week we will know whether there is yet another chapter in what is already a fairytale.

Unfortunately for 187-game veteran Power defender Michael Wilson, there will be no fairytale finish. Wilson won a premiership medal in 2004, but will not be there next week after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the second quarter.

© 2007 The Sunday Age

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