Mark Bickley: How Port Adelaide’s 2004 inaugural premiership side stacks up to the hopefuls of today
Mark Bickley knows a thing or two about winning flags, having captained two Grand Final wins at Adelaide and he believes Port Adelaide’s current incarnation has eerie similarities to the 2004 Power side that claimed the Power’s first premiership.
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With Port Adelaide on the cusp of qualifying for its third Grand Final it’s hard not to compare this group to the premiership heroes of 2004.
I know a lot has changed in the AFL, including the look of the game and the way it’s played, but the two teams still share a lot of common ground.
THE COACHES
Mark Williams built strong relationships with his players, engaging, teaching and challenging them to be better. It sounds like what every coach does but Williams did it better than most and you only have to talk to any of his players to understand that.
Ken Hinkley has built that same rapport. The genuine connection he has developed with his players was on display after Port Adelaide’s win against Geelong last week. They are clearly playing for him.
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AGE & EXPERIENCE
The 2004 tyros had an average age of 27, compared to today’s team at 26 years and 131 days. The games of experience is even closer at 127 games for the 2004 team compared to 122 for the current playing group.
Both teams also have a great mix of young stars to complement the many 100+ gamers they have in the side. Shaun Burgoyne, Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi were the cream of the crop. Marginally advanced in age and experience compared to Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma.
Port Adelaide fans would be happy with similar career outputs from there three current young guns.
THE BAROMETER
I know Chad Cornes and Charlie Dixon are great mates but they also share a very important characteristic in their on-field persona.
Teammates walk taller when they get emotionally invested in the game. Who can forget Chad’s trademark fist pumps to the Port Adelaide faithful in the outer at Football Park, it generated electricity among the fans.
Dixon is no different. When playing well he is Adonis-like and even when it’s not all going his way, he has a snarl that dares any opposition player to get in his way.
Even without marking it against Geelong he made a valuable contribution.
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X-FACTOR
Fair to say the 2004 premiers were a little more advanced in this area, where do I start? Gavin Wanganeen, Byron Pickett, Stuart Dew. Is it any wonder they averaged 109 points per game?
Steven Motlop provided a timely reminder last week of what he is capable of around goals, Butters is building and Robbie Gray has been a match winner on many occasions.
Will one of these players light up and write themselves into Port Adelaide folklore like their predecessors?
THE RUCKS
Back in the early 2000s two ruckmen were the norm. Brendan Lade led the way, supported by mature-aged basketball convert Dean Brogan.
Fast forward 16 years and Port Adelaide are one of only a few sides playing two ruckmen. Scott Lycett the senior partner, with a premiership under his belt already from West Coast in 2018, and the experience to take on all comers, assisted by the younger more agile Peter Ladhams, whose work on the ground belies his 202cm frame.
Lycett’s match-sealing tap to Butters in Round 13 pays homage to Lade, whose soft touch in a ruck contest combined with a high football IQ created many forward 50 stoppage goals for the Power.
MR RELIABLE
Hard to narrow it down in the super consistent 2004 team but two stand out. Roger James and Josh Carr. James was effortlessly skilful and deceptively tough. Carr almost the opposite, hard and aggressive but deceptively skilful. Rarely beaten, ultra competitive, super effective.
The nearest combination in today’s Port Adelaide outfit is Travis Boak and Ollie Wines. Boak’s work rate and output is league leading, while Wines has averaged 24 disposals in his past 10 games, placing him as one of the premier midfielders in the competition.
THE SKIPPER
Warren Tredrea faced the unenviable task of filling the shoes of the injured Matthew Primus in 2004. Primus played just one game that year, leaving Tredrea to steer the ship in a make or break season for Port Adelaide after three consecutive finals failures.
Tredrea rose to the occasion with 81 goals, 192 marks, 50 of those contested, and would cement his superstar status.
Tom Jonas has been no less impressive in his debut season as sole captain, while the numbers may not be as obvious to back it up, the standard he sets and the demand he has of his teammates have been so important to the chemistry of this group.
THE EMOTION
Josh Francou and Primus had been great players and servants of the football club for long periods, but both missed the flag through injury.
As players celebrated on-field after the siren both were present and no doubt had mixed emotions.
Proud of their club and teammates, but shattered to have missed the opportunity. They were rightly acknowledged by the Port Adelaide players and coaches.
Hard not to feel similar emotions for club stalwart Justin Westhoff. A mainstay in the team over the past 13 seasons, before missing selection in Round 15 this year.
I’m not sure there is a more universally admired Port Adelaide player for how he has gone about his career. If he doesn’t regain his position in the team the motivation provided might be similar to that of injured Bulldogs skipper Bob Murphy in 2016.
THE WASH UP
As interesting as it has been to compare the two teams there is one significant difference.
The team of 2004 has the job done, Premiership Cup engraved.
For the 2020 contenders, this goal is still to be completed.
They do however look just as connected and capable as their history making predecessors.
Only time will tell.