Joel Garner Biography

Joel Garner makes his AFL debut for Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval with 13 disposals (11 kicks and 2 handballs), 5 marks and 2 tackles in a 38-point win over Gold Coast.

Joel Garner will miss the rest of the 2018 season after having a shoulder reconstruction.

Garner had played every game for Port Adelaide in the SANFL this season, but underwent surgery on Tuesday after a number of minor shoulder injuries.

"Joel had experienced several shoulder subluxations across the season, it was only a matter of time before he would have to have surgery," the Power's head of high performance Ian McKeown said.

"The timing gives Joel the absolute best opportunity to rehab well and be in an optimal space for next preseason, and beyond.”

Port Adelaide draftee Joel Garner was in the dark in more ways than one during the NAB AFL Draft before the Power pressed the button on his football dream.

Garner was watching the draft unfold with his family at Gruyere, population 848, in the Yarra Valley, when storms forced the television coverage at his house to drop out.

"We were all on our phones, so that was a bit of a worry," Garner said.

"I wasn't really nervous, I was more excited and I thought, it will be what it will be, whatever happens.

"There was a little bit of nerves towards 55 plus, but I'm very excited now."