A common, yet mystifying, knock on Sam Powell-Pepper last year was that the young and powerful WA midfielder was already close to reaching his ceiling as a footballer.

He could play for another decade and have a strong career, but probably wouldn’t develop far beyond the levels he reached in 2017, the small band of predominantly Melbourne-based sceptics mused.

Just how they came to reach such a conclusion without the aid of a crystal ball is anyone’s guess. But it’s what they ran with as they debated the existing attributes and career prospects of last year’s impressive batch of debutants.

Powell-Pepper couldn’t care less. On the eve of his second season in AFL ranks, the 20-year-old is tougher, stronger and smarter than he was as a teenager.

And with a bigger engine under the hood, Port Adelaide’s raging bull believes he will be able to produce his imposing crash-and-bash style for longer. It’s a scary proposition.

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“Pre-season has been unreal. It’s been real tough, but it’s been a good grind,” Powell-Pepper told The West Australian.

Camera Icon Booming goals, big fend-offs, Powell-Pepper showed it all in his debut season. Credit: AFL Media

“First year we got sat out of a lot of things, but this year we’re just straight into everything. It was a bit of a surprise, but we got through and I’m feeling fitter than ever. There’s a lot of improvement that I need and I’m working on that, but I’m feeling confident for the year ahead. I’m a lot fitter and a lot stronger, but also (expanding my) knowledge as well.”

Powell-Pepper could count himself unlucky not to have won the Rising Star award claimed by Essendon’s Andrew McGrath last year.

The East Perth product did more than hold his own when immediately thrust into one of the game’s most uncompromising roles as an inside midfielder.

He kicked 16 goals in 22 games, averaged 17 disposals (almost half of them contested), five tackles and three clearances, and was rewarded in June with a new contract that sees him through to the end of 2020.

His immediate popularity with Power fans was jumped on by the club, which splashed images of his Dustin Martin-like fend-off across its marketing and advertising material well before his first season drew to a close.

First year we got sat out of a lot of things, but this year we’re just straight into everything. It was a bit of a surprise, but we got through and I’m feeling fitter than ever.

Now the pressure is on to avoid the second-year blues.

The arrival of experienced off-season recruits Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop, Jack Trengove, Trent McKenzie and Lindsay Thomas means competition for spots is hotter than at any stage since Ken Hinkley took the reins in late 2012.

Powell-Pepper acknowledges versatility is critical in the modern game and has set about working on his forward craft to add another string to his bow.

He’s also a competitive beast and is ready to fight for his place.

“I’ve been working a lot more in the midfield and working a lot on my tank, as well, because hopefully this year I’ll be playing a lot more minutes in the midfield than I was last year,” said Powell-Pepper, who hopes to get the all-clear to play in round one against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday after shoulder soreness prevented him from featuring in Port’s JLT Community Series win over Adelaide earlier in the month.

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“I’ve been working with Paddy (Ryder), Ollie (Wines), Ebo (Brad Ebert) and Rocky (Rockliff), and still learning a lot and getting familiar with some other roles because you can’t just be playing one role.

“I’ll just put my head down and work hard and take whatever comes my way. But I’m planning on playing most games this year.”

The huge influx of best-22 calibre talent has been widely tipped to drive Port Adelaide deep into September and the external expectations have been matched inside the four walls at Alberton.

“Bigger picture, we want to go all the way,” Powell-Pepper said. “But we’re just working towards round one and then obviously build into finals.”