Port Adelaide sent the AFL world into a frenzy 12 months ago went they pulled off one of the more interesting series of recruiting moves in the modern age.
Rebounding from a premature finals exit, the Power opted to introduce a raft of ready made but dejected footballers from other clubs – namely Jack Watts (Melbourne), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane), Steven Motlop (Geelong) and Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne).
At the same time Aaron Young, Brendon Ah Chee, Jackson Trengove, Jarman Impey, Logan Austin and Matthew Lobbe all exited the building.
It was a big step up for the Power, who, the year before, failed to make a single deal. While the consensus on the strategy was mixed, the prevailing school of thought seemed to be that Port Adelaide had managed to completely reshape the mature portion of its list and if it worked – boy oh boy would it work.
But did it?
Port Adelaide finished the 2018 season in 10th spot, missing out on a place in the eight by a solitary win and a healthy slice of percentage. It was a disappointing result for the Power who the year before finished fifth with 14 wins.
It was a particularly dismaying result considering Port Adelaide appeared destined for a top four spot at the midway point of the season and sat inside the eight as far as round 20.
Travis Boak of the Power (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Steven Motlop was the most consistent selection from the group of recruits. Motlop played 21 games in 2018. He finished with an average of 17.6 disposals per game and operated at above 70 percent efficiency.
He racked up more than 330 metres gained on average. In the departments he was most required in however he was a let down – averaging a little over three tackles per game, under four inside 50s and kicking just 11 goals for the year.
One of the most heavily debated upon players in the competition, Jack Watts managed to play 19 games in his first season at Port Adelaide. Watts averaged 14 touches and was clean in execution – running at 80 percent accuracy. Watts managed to kick 18 goals and seems to have finally cemented his status as a role players once and for all.
Tom Rockliff was a similar story – far from a nightmare, but also failed to set the world on fire. Rockliff played 18 matches in his first season at Port Adelaide and averaged 20.6 touches, eight of them contested. Rockliff averaged four clearances a game and nearly five tackles, showing the occasional signs of his best form at Brisbane but not reaching those heights.
Port Adelaide Power’s Tom Rockliff in training (AAP Image/Ben Macmahon)
Lindsay Thomas is the final name on our list but really should be in a category of his own, given his age and the fact that he has now retired from the top level. At best, Thomas was going to battle out one last year and help add some polish to an already threatening team.
With Port Adelaide struggling to play cohesively at all for big patches of the season, Thomas played just seven matches – averaging 11 touches and four tackles and kicking four goals. Oh and he got suspended too.
With all this in mind, Port Adelaide’s blockbuster trade period must surely be judged as a failure.
While Scott Lycett has already joined the club from the premiership producing West Coast Eagles, the Power appear positioned to leak players a gain little in return – with Jared Polec and Jasper Pittard off to North Melbourne, Tom Jonas tempted by Sydney and Chad Wingard’s name being pushed on list managers in Victoria.
All this, and Port Adelaide has been linked to no big names beyond Greater Western Sydney’s Dylan Shiel – although Essendon is the clear favourite.
Port Adelaide’s best and fairest award was dominated by the tried and true names of the club. The 32-year-old Justin Westhoff won outright on 179 votes, leading Tom Jonas (162), Ollie Wines (162), Robbie Gray (152), Jared Polec (151) and Chad Wingard (143).
Chad Wingard of the Power (AAP Image/David Mariuz)
Port Adelaide finished in the bottom three for disposal efficiency this year and was perfectly middle of the road in just about every other important metric – total disposals (13th), contested possessions (10th), inside 50s (eighth), efficiency inside 50 (12th), goal assists (11th), total marks (13th), marks inside 50 (12th), interceptions (11th) and even hitouts (10th).
While Lycett and Ryder teaming up together may transform Port Adelaide into one of the more intimidating aerial sides apart from that it’s difficult to see where the improvement is going to come from for this club.
The action and excitement of Port Adelaide 2014 preliminary charge are slipping further and further away and the days when the Power were one kick away from a grand final having disappeared in the rear view mirror.
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