Kane Farrell is one of the candidates to replace the departed Dan Houston as the premier distributor off half back for Port Adelaide. His left boot is just about as accurate as Houston's and almost as long, his problem up to now has been positioning to receive on the outside and win his own footy in the clinches. With other defenders like Josh Sinn and Lachie Jones concentrating more on following their men, it is Farrell that Port will look to more and more to grow into that pivotal role, making him a strong chance to be a mid-price fantasy improver in 2025.
Kane Farrell is one of the candidates to replace the departed Dan Houston as the premier distributor off half back for Port Adelaide. His left boot is just about as accurate as Houston's and almost as long, his problem up to now has been positioning to receive on the outside and win his own footy in the clinches. With other defenders like Josh Sinn and Lachie Jones concentrating more on following their men, it is Farrell that Port will look to more and more to grow into that pivotal role, making him a strong chance to be a mid-price fantasy improver in 2025.
Kane Farrell is in his seventh year on the Port Adelaide list, a fact which may have crept up on you as he has retained his boyish looks and has taken a long time to cement a spot in the Power's best 22. Like Trent McKenzie who started at Gold Coast, his best weapon is a raking left-foot kick but the quantity of his statistical output has not matched that quality. In 2024, however, his numbers have hit a new level, particularly in the three matches since the bye with disposal tallies of 30, 24 and 25. Dan Houston may have a higher ceiling, but Farrell a higher floor.
Kane Farrell is at the start of his career and new Port teammate Trent McKenzie is much nearer the end of his, but they share one trait: they came into the league with big hype over the beauty of their kicking. With the Cannon it was more about his prodigious length, whereas Farrell combines a decent hoof with more precision. The younger man's current role off a half forward flank allows him to display his one-wood more often in a good team than McKenzie did at the lowly Suns, and it will be interesting to see if his career has a narrower trajectory.
Dropped like he's not hot
After playing the last five games of 2018, it took until round 8 for Kane Farrell to make it back to the senior side, with the high point being four goals in round 13. He was back to the SANFL three weeks later after two anonymous four-disposal outings. Farrell will duke it out with a host of other candidates for the small forward left open by the departure of Sam Gray. His SANFL averages are decent, but so far he has shown little ability to reproduce them on the bigger stage. He is not worth drafting.
Clap along with Farrell
A shift from half back to a forward role eventually paid dividends for Kane Farrell as he graduated from the SANFL to the senior side in round 19 last season. In his second game, he booted three goals in Q1 of the second Showdown. Outside of that, his statistical output was minimal. There is no chance of Farrell reverting to his old position with the club blessed with HBF options, so he'll fight with a host of old and young teammates to run the flanks towards goal. His output in this position, while on a small sample size, suggests he shouldn't be drafted.
Kane can kick a barrel
Long-kicking left-footers are all the rage these days, and Kane Farrell showed that ability off a HBF at TAC Cup level to the tune of 17 mostly uncontested possessions per game. Farrell will start in the SANFL and try to work on his endurance, which is the main thing holding him back from a senior spot at this stage.
