Charlie Dixon emerges as biggest winner of Port Adelaide’s extra flexibility after off-season recruiting raid

Port Adelaide’s off-season recruiting was focused on strengthening its defensive and ruck stocks. But, as SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON explains, the biggest winner looks to be Charlie Dixon.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 17: Charlie Dixon of the Power controls the ball during the 2024 AFL Round 01 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval on March 17, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Port Adelaide had holes to fill when it came to its ruck and key defensive stocks.

But, the Power’s off-season recruits might also have given Charlie Dixon his best chance of making a real impact in 2024.

The 33-year-old showed just what he can do for the Power when he is up and about in Port’s season-opening win over West Coast on Sunday.

Bullying the Eagles’ best defender Tom Barrass, Dixon finished with 3.3, 13 disposals and four marks.

Charlie Dixon competes for a mark against the Eagles. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The only real negative from Dixon’s performance was when he played on after taking a mark directly in front, only to squander an easy shot at goal.

“When you are above 200cm sometimes it gets a little bit thin up there,” Dixon told this masthead.

“You get through it and there is a goal in front of you, you want a shot.

“But hey sometimes s--- happens and that is the way it is.”

It looked like Todd Marshall was set to assume spearhead status in the Power’s forward line after signing a five-year deal, but Dixon showed that despite battling injury in recent years he can still be significant weapon.

So how do the Power keep Dixon firing and out of the treatment room or playing sore?

Port Adelaide’s extra flexibility will mean less ruck time for Dixon. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Coach Ken Hinkley said the Power had a different focus with Dixon over the off-season and accepted he might not be 100 per cent at the start of the campaign.

“Charlie is at a stage of his career, hopefully not right at the end but he is at a point of his career where we have to look after him,” he said.

“We looked after him in the off-season, we were very mindful about how much training he needed to do.

“Is he absolutely 100 per cent flying right now? I would say no but that was a deliberate effort from us and the conditioning team to make sure we get as many games from Charlie.”

Dixon said getting that balance was key.

“I have sort of built and in the last couple of months of my pre-season I have built quite slowly but I have been able to get some miles under my legs and I felt all right out there so it is good,” he said.

“It is what happens when you get old, the body has taken a bit of a beating over the last couple of years and to be able to find that balance of training and not training I guess and be ready for Round 1 and build into the season rather than going 100 miles an hour at the start of the season where I fall off at the end.

“So try and build into this season and yeah cause we want to go deep.

“I think so (they are getting the balance) we are getting there, I’m still trying to find it a bit I guess.”

The Power’s recruits have given Hinkley and his coaches greater flexibility in games.

Ivan Soldo has become the No. 1 ruckman, Jordon Sweet provides back-up and it allowed the Power to consider playing two big men against the Eagles.

Dixon showed in round 1 he can still be a weapon for Port. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

While he was recruited as a key defender, Esava Ratugolea has played in the ruck before.

Along with Jeremy Finlayson – who did an admirable job as an undersized ruck for the Power over the past two years when its stocks were hit hard – Port now has options.

And it allows Dixon to stay away from the bruising ruck contests.

“Yeah absolutely, it is great I can stay at home in the forward line and make sure that we keep the structure right in the forward line and we can really work together with those big boys who are there now,” he said.

“I will pinch hit if I’m needed but I’ll do the stuff in the forward line mainly.”

But Dixon won’t entirely be out of the ruck.

He went to 10 contests against the Eagles with Soldo amassing 55 and Finlayson 14.

“The rucks certainly make his job a little bit easier,” Hinkley said.

“He is still the first person to put his hand up to chop out in the ruck because he quite likes playing there, which is a bit strange.”

The significant knee injury suffered by Ollie Lord, the natural heir to Dixon in the forward line with his ability to crash packs and play aggressively, might cause some different thinking from the Power when it comes to the veteran big man.

Before the season started Dixon conceded that 2024 could be his last.

He said he would do everything, like he does every year, to try and win.

The Power’s off-season moves might give him the best chance of doing that.