Port Adelaide’s moves in this year’s trade period are those of a club that believes they are firmly in the premiership window, after some say they prematurely made a preliminary final in 2014.
The acquisitions of Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop, Jack Watts, Jack Trengove and Trent McKenzie made the Power one of the more active clubs in this year’s trade period.
Their signings did come at a cost, with the departures of Jackson Trengove, Jarman Impey, Brendon Ah Chee, Aaron Young, Logan Austin and Matthew Lobbe, although all had found themselves playing SANFL at season’s end.
However, I am not convinced these fresh faces will thrust Port into the top four in 2018.
Although they finished fifth, Port Adelaide struggled to beat a top-eight team in 2017. Punishing every team below them allowed Port to finish with the second-best percentage, only to Adelaide, but their Achilles’ heel was their polish and predictability going inside forward 50.
The signatures of Rockliff and Motlop certainly help to fill the void of polish – although not necessarily known for his finesse, Rockliff showed this year he can play as a crafty half forward.
Family ties saw Motlop chose the Power over both the Crows and Gold Coast, in which can only be described as high-risk, high-reward move by the club. History tells us that you almost already know what you’re going to get when it comes to Motlop – 20 disposals and one goal a game, on average. But it’s the difference between his best and worst that has many questioning his impact next season.
The speedster finished season 2017 with a career-high disposal efficiency of 74 per cent, which is something Port has been desperately searching for.
This also highlights why they went after out-of-favour Demon Watts, who is among the best in the competition when it comes to efficient forward 50 entries. Port finished 13th in the competition for effective disposals per game in 2017, so Hinkley will be banking on the former number 1 pick bringing his elite leg.
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But what’s needed more than anything was a contested-marking tall forward, like Mitch McGovern or Jack Darling. Having another quality tall forward to complement Charlie Dixon would have allowed the club to finally put an end to their habit of robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Dixon is one of the hardest working power forwards in the game and what he provides both up the ground and deep inside 50 cannot be undersold. However, when he is playing as that link-up player, Robbie Gray or Chad Wingard must play as the next best forwards options.
Gray spent the majority of the year as a deep small forward. Whether this was by design or limitations caused by injury, his class in the midfield was sorely missed. He doesn’t get as much recognition as he deserves by interstate media, but Gray is one of the best one-on-one forwards in the competition – as we saw in this year’s Round 19 clash against St Kilda. Gray is a match winner and needs to be utilised with significantly more minutes in the midfield.
Equally, when Dixon is playing as a deep forward, the Power are predictable in their forward 50 entries. High repeat entries to Dixon make defending easy for the quality intercept men of the competition.
Playing as a forward, Dixon found himself double-teamed more often than not this season. However, if Port added another contested marking tall, it would make opposition defenders see Dixon in fewer two-on-one situations, resulting in him reach his true potential and stamping his place among the competition’s best power forwards.
Port Adelaide fans should be extremely happy with the aggressive approach taken in chasing down the club’s second flag. With only two first-round selections since 2013, Port have put their future in the hands of their scouting and player development.
Time will tell if these bold moves pay off, but more teams should take this aggressive approach.
Harsh Truth Harry
Roar Rookie
Mick was still on Eddie's payroll when at Carlton. He took Daisy, knowing his body wasn't the same anymore....let Eddie go and proceeded to instigate Carlton's worst era in their now tragic history.
Pelican
Guest
Wingard, Wines, Gray, Boak, Byrne-Jones, Powell-Pepper, Marshall, Jonas, Houston, Amon, Johnston, Atley, Hombsch, Pittard, Westhoff and Sam Gray are all players who came to Port via the draft. Port have been building this side for a while and the trading this year is just a matter of timing. Also I would say Powell-Pepper is a gem and Todd Marshall will be. I'm very happy with where Ken Hinkley has the list and don't think he has short changed us in the future at all. Time will tell but speculation of Ports demise is just wishful thinking. Port will be around for another 147 years. The future is not a concern in the slightest.
Cat
Roar Guru
All of that is true but the VFL had no salary cap. No draft. A different or non-existent finals format (depending on year). No equalisation measures. VFL flag ≠ AFL flag
Blue
Guest
The AFL is a rebrand of the VFL. Same board, same constitution, same competition. Be as proud as you like about SANFL flags, but Essendon have 16 flags and are gunning for 17. Nobody had a gun to PAFC's head, they chose to join the comp voluntarily. If you don't like it, just watch the Maggies and enjoy your full history.
Philthy
Roar Rookie
I can't actually believe you suggested that Port recruit Jack Darling. Mr Footsteps himself frightened by his own shadow...
Stephen
Guest
Yes. You're correct AD - White and Eddy have been farewelled. I guess the point still remains - its a telling couple of years ahead for PA. The competition has become so even and the line between success and failure is very fine. Fifth on the ladder can quickly become fifteenth. And vice versa if you get it right - e.g. Richmond.
Mitchy
Guest
Dixon and Hartlett are both 27, White was delisted after only paling a handful of games and Eddy was also de-listed after playing 3 games this year... hardly best 22.
AD
Guest
I think they delisted Matt White and Bretty Eddy, didn't they? Both only played a handful of games this year anyway, so not really best 22. Westhoff is already past it - I think that's at least part of the reason they brought in Watts. Boak and Broadbent are already on the downward side of the hill, but still have a bit to offer for another year or two. Harlett is inconsistent, but his best is certainly good. Ebert and Dixon very good players. Ryder, Gray, Wingard and Wines are the stars on that list, and as you said, 2 of them are in the tail end of their careers, so they'll be looking to make the most of them while they can.
AD
Guest
That's true, but they've got Boak, Gray and Ryder heading into the twilight of their careers, so you'd think that will free up some cap space as they retire in the next 2 or 3 years. If you look at the other players currently on their list, the only ones that look like they'll be commanding A-grade kind of salaries in the next few years are Wines, Wingard (who are probably already on decent dollars anyway) and maybe Powell-Pepper, so I don't see a lot of extra salary cap pressure coming in the near future. It might restrict their ability to bring in a super-high-priced free agent, but there's no guarantee they would have attracted one anyway.
Stephen
Guest
Interesting times ahead for Port. I'm tipping the next two years will be fruitful. Their aggressive trade period strategy is consistent with their 'premiership window'. Boak, White, Ryder, Broadbent, Ebert, Hartlett, Gray, Dixon, Eddy and Westoff - are arguably 10 of their best 22. And all sit in the 28+ age group. That's significant. If you subscribe to the scientific view - that an athlete reaches a physical peak at age 26 - then 2018 and 2019 become telling for Port Adelaide. Like the author of this article - I also commend PA on their bold approach. I just can't help thinking - 'its now or never' (for want of a better expression). looking at their recent list management strategies - perhaps that's how the club views it also?
Cat
Roar Guru
Depends on what effect it has on their salary cap going forward. Neither Motlop nor Rockliff came cheap and both rumored to be on 4 year deals too.
AD
Guest
I actually don't think it was that big a gamble. They'd already traded away their first round pick last year, and a lot of those who (claim to) know seem to think that this year's draft pool doesn't run very deep. So taking a punt on free agents like this is probably less speculative than taking a punt in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of a shallow draft. I don't think these acquisitions suddenly propel them into premiership contention, but nor do I think they're any worse off in the short or long term than they would have been if they'd gone to the draft to fill those spots on the list.
Cat
Roar Guru
Compo picks should be scrapped. I've never agreed with them.
Stephen
Guest
Fair enough - thanks. I can't honestly say I've followed Motlop closely enough to pass a fair judgement. Would you agree the whole issue of Free Agency Compensation needs to be either tighter and more transparent or abolished entirely?
Cat
Roar Guru
Compo picks are based on age and salary – not ability. If a club over pays for a player then the compo pick is going to be higher than ability says they are worth. Do I think Motlop is worth $600k+ per year? Nope. That's why I was glad the Cats let him go. Can you honestly tell me Motlop isn't flaky? I've closely watched him his whole AFL career and I can't think of a better word to describe him as a player. Could have been anything based on raw talent, but seems to lack the heart and drive to excel consistently. Takes too many plays and even entire games off. Can look great when the team is going well but cannot think of a single time he ever lifted the side and those around him.
David C
Guest
Yep, Port are in a dangerous space at the moment. If the wheels come off ala Freo and North they are going to be in real strife going forward. They need more elite young talent and you need a few years of high draft picks to get that. North are finding that out at the moment. Freo get a couple of elite talents this year which can really launch their rebuild.
Sylvester
Roar Rookie
The major concern for Port is their future and the next wave of talent coming through. They've traded away many of their early picks over the last 5 years for ready-made players and I don't think they have the same ability to find gems in the draft like their rivals at West Lakes. In the past they've tried to bolster their list on the cheap with early picks from other clubs that weren't getting a game like Jared Polec and Jimmy Toumpas, which is a gamble. Their inconsistency in games is a reflection of their list, the difference between their top tier players and their bottom 6 is still too great.
sammy
Guest
maybe so. Also Westhoff is in his 30's as well and he is one of their better players. What they have been able to do well is keep players they want to keep - the end of next year? Wines will be out of contract and if a big offer comes his way it will be a test for the club to see if they can hold him as he is a key for them for the years ahead
Stephen
Guest
Cat, please help me reconcile the argument - compensation draft pick 19 is justifiable based on a loose set of guidelines - for a flaky player. Would both arguments sit comfortably in a court of law? Question not a statement.
GJ
Guest
Rockliff should make a huge difference. Allowing Wingard and Gray to spend more time forward. The fact he can go forward himself is a bonus. Watts and Motlop is a going to be a wait and see how Ken tries to utilise them. The others are stocking fillers on 1 year contracts that could well end up delisted to make way for youngsters at next years draft. Hard to tell in which direction their season will go next year. A slightly harder fixture and a little less depth could see them no better off.