Port Adelaide’s pre-season carries extra significance as fans and pundits look to find the ‘true’ Power

LOCKED training sessions and the AFL women’s comp have provided a handy screen for Port Adelaide this summer — until now, writes MICHELANGELO RUCCI.

Hamish Hartlett leads teammates on a lap of Grange Recreational Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

NOW there is nowhere to hide for Port Adelaide, one of several AFL football teams that need to prove themselves in Season 2017.

The locked gates at pre-season training have served as a handy screen through the summer. The launch of the inaugural women’s national football league has chewed up a fair bit of the media cycle to delay the intense previews of AFL teams.

But now it is game on, from 5pm Friday at Alberton with an internal trial. And as much as such an event is appropriately described by AFL great Malcolm Blight as “dancing with your sister”, there is an extra edge to this practice match.

First, there are the Port Adelaide fans searching for much-needed hope after two disappointing seasons in which the Power has ranked ninth and 10th and been far from the team that delivered enthralling football in coach Ken Hinkley’s first two seasons, 2013 and 2014 when it was a preliminary finalist.

While internal trials have usually been about getting that first look at the new draftees, there will be considerable attention on the old hands — in particular former vice-captain Hamish Hartlett, after he averted a trade deal; former No. 1 ruckman Matthew Lobbe, after his fall to SANFL ranks; key forward Charlie Dixon now that he is the major man in the Power attack; and Patrick Ryder on his return from the WADA-imposed ban that wiped out his season last year.

It is telling that Port Adelaide’s membership sales are slightly down on last year’s marks, despite passing the critical 50,000 barrier for the fourth consecutive season. Clearly, Power fans need to find that new hope that is vital to the membership sales pitch at any AFL club.

Hamish Hartlett on the burst at pre-season training. Picture: Sarah Reed

Then there are the pundits who also need to be convinced of just where Port Adelaide stands in the race to the AFL top eight. Much of the praise generated in 2013 and ’14 — when Hinkley was labelled as the coach changing the way the AFL game would be played — has been replaced by doubt, cynicism and biting criticism of the players’ capabilities and the coach’s playbook.

The Power players — and Hinkley — cannot hide from the question of why there is such a contrast to the Port Adelaide way of 13-14 when compared with 15-16, despite the squad having remained stable at Alberton.

This point is not lost on Hartlett, who told The Advertiser he has been searching through this mystery himself this summer.

“I have watched a few of those (13-14) games recently on Fox Footy — and I liked the speed we moved the ball as opposed to what we have done in the past couple of years,” Hartlett said. “That is the main difference (to 15-16).

“A bit of that comes down to the opposition understanding how you play and limiting our options. But we have to find ways around that — and not go away taking those risks we took in 13-14. We played a bit too safe. That stands out in watching the games again.

“We are certainly doing stuff to improve on that.”

Everyone will be looking for the signs on Friday night.

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