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Live sport on SN this weekendSweet deal: How the Power landed “special buy” ruck from Dogs
Andrew Slevison • July 17th, 2026 4:00 pm
How did Port Adelaide get Jordon Sweet out of the Western Bulldogs?
The in-form Power ruckman left Whitten Oval for Alberton in the 2023 trade period in exchange for Pick 50. That’s all.
He had only played 11 games across four seasons in red, white and blue having joined the club via the rookie draft in November, 2018.
But it now seems a masterstroke by the Power with Sweet one of the highest rated rucks in the game across the last six weeks.
The 28-year-old has grown in stature across his three seasons at Port - two of those which were spent under Ken Hinkley.
Hinkley told SEN Sportsday colleague Gerard Healy how the Power landed him when they were also in dialogue with Brodie Grundy who he was leaving Melbourne.
Healy asked: “How did Jordon Sweet get out of the Dogs? Given that right now he’s the third highest rated ruckman over the last six weeks.
“He was sitting there in the seconds. You guys sold the golden dream to him.”
Hinkley replied: “Can I tell you at the same time when that was going on, Brodie Grundy became real for us too.
“We’d spoken to Jordon a couple of times and he’d already gotten to the point where he was pretty optimistic about wanting to return home to South Australia.
“Then we had the conversation turned to, ‘If we happen to get Brodie Grundy, how do you feel about that?’. He was ok, he said, ‘Oh I’ll back myself in’.
“Good on him, he’s been such a good pickup.”
Sweet was the starting ruckman for coach Josh Carr in North Adelaide’s 2018 SANFL flag so there was already some serious intel on him.
Hinkley admits has taken Sweet a little while to develop which is completely normal for a big man, but is delighted he has become such a savvy signing.
“Josh has had history with him in the SANFL at North Adelaide, so he knew his strengths as well,” Hinkley continued.
“It’s like a lot of ruckmen – he’s 28, they do take longer. Sweety is a big strong unit - he’s 206cm and nice and strong and can run. He’s actually added to his game – he’s having shots at goal all the time and taking more marks than he ever has, so he’s a great get.
“You asked the question of how did we get him out? That’s why we call them special buys.”
The Power will have their work cut out for them when they meet top side Fremantle at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Sweet, who takes on possible 2026 All-Australian Luke Jackson, is fourth in the league for total hitouts (493), third for hitouts to advantage (160) and equal fourth for stoppage clearances (62),
