Port Adelaide showed during the season that they could compete with most teams and play finals, but only at times. They fell away at the end of the season, losing their last four games and missing the final eight by four points and percentage.
Power had recruited strongly over the off-season and had picked up seven players from other league clubs, although one of these, Dom Barry, had last played for Melbourne in 2014. The other six, however, were considered good pick-ups, but at the end of the day the club would have been disappointed with their output.
Steven Motlop played 21 games and scored 11 goals, Jack Watts played 19 games and scored 18 goals, and Tom Rockliff played 18 games and scored seven goals. The remainder, including Jack Trengove and Trent McKenzie, had little impact, and Lindsay Thomas has since announced his retirement.
The Power did get a good return from two of their second-year players in Dan Houston and Sam Powell-Pepper, and most of their experienced players were good contributors, with Justin Westoff, Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Brad Ebert and Chad Wingard all playing more than 20 games for the season.
Hamish Hartlett was sidelined for most of the season with injury and will be a welcome return if he is able to front up next year.
(Mark Brake/Getty Images)
Justin Westoff and Robbie Gray battled throughout the year to claim second spot on the club’s all-time goal-kickers list, though are still more than 250 goals behind Warren Tredrea. By season’s end Robbie Gray had kicked 12 more goals – 36 to 24 – and held second place on the club’s top-100 goal-scorers list by three goals, 294 to 291.
The other main goal-scorer, Charlie Dixon, had his least productive season since joining the club from Gold Coast in 2016 but still managed to take his total goals for the team to 105.
Paddy Ryder, one of the most effective ruckmen in the competition, was limited to 16 games in which he scored only ten goals, his equal lowest goal output since 2008.
So for whatever reason most of the players played below their most productive form, and the coach will need to address this problem as well as the probable loss of Jarod Polec for his team to improve enough to challenge for a final spot in 2019.
Peter from Geelong
Guest
Port achilles was their reliance on one ruckman (and his frail achilles heel). The problem was recognised and now resolved by bringing home a favorite son. When Paddy was injured they was no plan B. It comprised other players such as Charlie, forced to play out of position, in the ruck. They also need to change their game plan and stop staking the back line with forwards. Albeit, it restricts the opposition from scoring but is also makes it had for Port to score. When Charlie broke his leg, they finally allowed the Hoff to stay in the forward line for four quarters, resulting in five goals! I expect Port to finish top four next year. . s was when paddy
powa
Guest
the rebuild word is getting bandied about at alberton, foolishly in my opinion
Damien
Guest
At times Port were as good as any team in the AFL with victories against the Tigers, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and very narrow losses to Hawthorn, Geelong, GWS, West Coast. If they can get rid of the inconsistencies and also produce a better forward system they will challenge for the flag in 2019.