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Port need to do some clever recruiting

Roar Guru
30th August, 2014
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Roar Guru
30th August, 2014
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Reports are circling that Tyson Goldsack is set to move to Alberton for $1.2 million over three years. But Port Adelaide don’t need a 193-centimetre utility.

The Power’s list management priority should be to poach a ruckman with plenty of upside.

Many critics say Port Adelaide need another reliable tall forward who can provide support for Justin Westhoff and especially Jay Schulz.

Port Adelaide have a Western Australian who kicked 20 goals in 11 games in the SANFL this year named Mason Shaw. Drafted in 2012, with two state league seasons under his belt, Shaw’s body will be ready for an AFL debut after a third preseason.

If Port Adelaide were to look at bringing in another forward, they may want to look at Lewis Johnston who currently is listed at cross-town rivals Adelaide Crows. Johnston is already at a second club during his short career but has kicked 16 goals in 10 games. He has not played a match since Round 2 and is in a losing battle competing for a spot among a cohort of tall forwards.

It was reported that the Power were close to luring former Port Magpie Scott Lycett home, but Lycett committed to West Coast early last week.

In 2013, Port Adelaide had interest in Gold Coast Sun Daniel Gorringe but he re-signed with the Suns until the end of 2015. With a year left on his contract, the Power could make another play for him. Matthew Lobbe showed who would be boss of the ruck department if Gorringe did return to South Australia. Lobbe had a huge tally of 56 hitouts to Gorringe’s 17 when the two faced off a couple of weeks ago.

At 22, Gorringe would give Port Adelaide great depth in the ruck department for years to come and would ease the workload on Lobbe’s shoulders.

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There are whispers that Jonathan Giles is unsettled at GWS and would welcome a move to his home state. It would be an unconventional shift if Giles came back to Port Adelaide, as he was on the Power’s senior list for four years before becoming a Giant. Not often do players return to clubs which have previously had them listed.

Giles is a proven talent and would be able to step in at any time if needed.

It will come as good news for Port Adelaide fans that injury-riddled ruckman Jarrad Redden has re-signed with the club yesterday for one year.

As for the reports that Cameron O’Shea is heading to St Kilda, it would be unfortunate for Port Adelaide as O’Shea put pen to paper in March.

It’s likely the Power would like to retain O’Shea’s services as it seems Lewis Stevenson and Campbell Heath have their spots on Port Adelaide’s list is in doubt.

Other players who may be looking at the axe are Cameron Hitchcock and Brendan Ah Chee. Hitchcock has only managed to play 35 games for a return of 31 goals as a small forward over five years. Hitchcock has not played a game this season and now has to compete against Sam Gray, as well as other small forwards to be selected.

Brendan Ah Chee has shown slow progress in the SANFL after being drafted in 2011 and has not been rewarded with an AFL debut.

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The most interesting part of Port Adelaide’s offseason will be how they approach the draft; what type of talent would they want and who would they have their eyes on?

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