Port Adelaide track watch: Mitch Georgiades, Joe Richards impress as Power’s new game plan becomes clear

Last season, Port Adelaide ranked last for goal kicking accuracy – but stats reveal it might have been more about where the Power took its shots. On Friday, the change in tactic was obvious.

Key forward Mitch Georgiades has dominated what may be Port Adelaide’s last match simulation before trial games, kicking five goals at Alberton Oval on Friday.

Georgiades was one of the standouts during a three-period hitout that featured mixed teams propped up with more fill-ins than usual because of the absence of five players for the Indigenous All-Stars clash.

The 23-year-old benefited from the Power’s tweaked game style that showcased quicker ball movement and forwards pushing higher up the ground.

He and others were able to kick easy majors out the back in space, some from very close range, after working up the field then sprinting towards goals when teammates won the ball.

Port should be able to play that way more often without long-time spearhead Charlie Dixon because the retired 200cm big man typically stayed deep in attack.

Mitch Georgiades starred on Friday. Picture: Jack Dilks

The Power ranked 12th in the league last year for goals from 0-15m, last for expected accuracy and bottom for accuracy, according to Champion Data statistics.

Ken Hinkley’s side was essentially taking the most difficult shots of any team, contributing to struggles in front of goal.

In theory, playing a faster brand with more athletic forwards and a more open attack should lead to easier shots and better conversion.

Time will tell if that is the case.

Coming off a career-best 44-goal campaign in his first season back from a serious knee injury, Georgiades becomes more important with Dixon gone and clever tall forward Todd Marshall (ruptured achilles) out for most of the year.

Georgiades wore Marshall’s number 4 on Friday in a nice gesture for his fellow forward, who was watching from the sidelines.

Ex-Collingwood goalsneak Joe Richards was another to impress and use the space inside 50 to his advantage, outbodying Logan Evans to mark and goal from close range in the third term.

Richards added another when his tackle earnt a free kick and he slotted truly from 30m.

Former Sun Jack Lukosius booted at least one goal, again looking good as a leading forward.

In a sign of how he could be used, Lukosius pushed back into defence in the closing stages of quarters in a Justin Westhoff-like role to help prevent late goals.

Joe Richards and Miles Bergman. Picture: Port Adelaide FC

Port was missing Jason Horne-Francis, Sam Powell-Pepper, Jase Burgoyne, Jeremy Finlayson and Willie Rioli because of the Indigenous All-Stars match in Perth on Saturday.

Powell-Pepper, who is hoping to make his comeback in round 1 from a season-ending knee injury, is not playing in the representative game.

Half-back Kane Farrell (hamstring), veteran Travis Boak, defender Lachie Jones and midfielder Willem Drew (foot) went in and out of the match simulation.

Ruckman Ivan Soldo (managed) did not feature at all.

Such were the number of absentees, former Power players turned specialist coaches Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Lobbe, Cam Sutcliffe and Justin Westhoff got involved, along with several SANFL signings.

Port plays its first pre-season game next Friday, taking on Adelaide in Mount Barker.