AFL 2024: Who stays, who goes: Running the ruler over every player coming out of contract at Port Adelaide at season’s end
Dixon, Boak, Finlayson, Jones and Mead are among 12 Port players without deals for 2025. Here’s the latest on the Power dozen and whether they’re in strife come season’s end.
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Veteran spearhead Charlie Dixon faces an uphill battle to play on at Port Adelaide in 2025.
Uncontracted for next year, Dixon’s spot on the list – and in the side – is in jeopardy unless he can turn his form around.
The end appears to be coming quickly for the 33-year-old, who has been rested twice this season and been subbed off in two of his past three games, including after a one-disposal, one-mark performance against Carlton last match.
Port is weighing up dropping Dixon to the SANFL as Ollie Lord pushes for a recall versus GWS in Sydney.
Dixon conceded he needed to knuckle down quickly.
But he told Channel 10 he felt like he still had more to give this year.
“I’m definitely on the edge (of selection),” Dixon said.
“Even when I’m playing, there hasn’t been a lot of impact so I’m trying to find a bit of form.
“When you get older, it gets harder.”
The Power feels it will get a better sense of Dixon’s playing future over the next two or three weeks.
Port planned to manage the 200cm forward to keep him fresher for later in the season.
But the team was now thinking he might require continuity to increase his match fitness and help him get to more contests.
Dixon and club great Travis Boak headline the list of 12 Power players without deals for 2025.
Port is open to Boak continuing if he maintains his early-season form and his body holds up.
The Power’s games record holder, who turns 36 in August, has been far more productive this year than last and has featured in 10 of its 12 matches.
Port knows it does not have a lot of wing depth and can use Boak’s experience.
But the club is mindful that older players’ form can drop in the back half of the year so it will come down to how the ex-captain finishes the season.
“There’s no perspective from the club to hurry to retire Travis, but equally he would want to be playing good enough footy to continue,” Port football boss Chris Davies told reporters last week.
“We’ll be guided by Travis but part of what Travis requires is honesty from people here as well as to the way we see him going.”
Here is the status of every Power player without a contract for 2025: