Insider: The Power of six — how Port traded its way back to the top

PORT Adelaide’s surge from basket case to premiership contender has been sparked by the remarkable improvement in its second chance men.

Speedy wingman Jared Polec has been outstanding in 2014. Picture: Colleen Petch.

PORT Adelaide’s surge from basket case to premiership contender has been sparked by the remarkable improvement in its second chance men.

Six players so integral to the club emerging as a shock flag hope two years after it was fighting for its AFL survival have gone from paupers to princes since landing at Alberton.

Jay Schulz, Brad Ebert, Angus Monfries, Matt White, Jared Polec and Jack Hombsch were considered good to average players at their previous clubs.

Only Monfries was a walk-up starter at his former club, Essendon, with Ebert dropped from West Coast’s finals side in 2011.

The other four were in and out of their old sides or, in White’s case at Richmond, often lumped with the green sub’s vest.

Champion Data statistics paint a telling picture of just how much the Super Six have excelled at Port, particularly this year where Polec and White became the latest recycled men to join coach Ken Hinkley’s team.

Four of the six - Schulz, White, Ebert and Polec - are averaging career highs in rankings points.

Highlighting their fine seasons this year is that all six rank highly in key AFL categories.

SCHULZ leads the Coleman Medal race with 24 goals. The key forward’s 26 marks inside 50 rank third in the competition.

Power’s Brad Ebert is a tireless worker. Picture: Colleen Petch.

EBERT has 485 metres gained per game - ranked 13th in the league and No. 1 at the Power.

The hardworking midfielder is averaging a career-high 23.4 disposals after averaging just 16.3 disposals in four years with the Eagles.

WHITE has been a revelation in his first seven games for Port. The midfield speedster has 11 goals and 11 assists for a scoreboard impact of 129 points - the most of any non-permanent on-baller in the league. He is averaging career highs in disposals (16.3), goals (1.6) and goal assists (1.6).

MONFRIES’ influence has been reduced by a torn hamstring this year but he has been a revelation since crossing from the Bombers at the end of 2012. The medium forward helped power Port’s finals charge last year by ranking second in the competition for rankings points (90) of any general forward, behind only Fremantle’s Chris Mayne. He kicked a career-high 39 goals and for a forward ranked in the elite category in disposals, contested possessions and score involvements.

Speedy wingman Jared Polec has been outstanding in 2014. Picture: Colleen Petch.

POLEC - the subject of a bidding war between the Power and Crows in the off-season when he quit Brisbane to return home - has been ever better than Port could have hoped for in his first season at the club. The speedy wingman ranks No. 2 at the Power and 21st in the league for metres gained, averaging 467 a game. His 24 disposals per game is 11 better than his previous best at the Lions in his debut year in 2011 while he is hitting the target by foot a superb 76 per cent of the time.

HOMBSCH is averaging a career best 16.3 disposals this year and has established himself as a key member of the Power’s back six. His 5.7 intercept possessions ranks third at Port.

Power football operations manager Peter Rohde said his club’s stunning success with recycled players had been due to selective recruiting and opportunities.

It has generally targeted Croweaters - White is the only one of the six not from SA - who could be looking for a return home while it has signed them with a specific role in mind.

“If we’ve felt we’ve had a need we’ve gone out to try and fill it and these six players have lapped up the opportunity, which is a credit to them,’’ he said.