Port Adelaide has not improved after big off-season recruiting

DUAL Adelaide Crows premiership captain Mark Bickley says for all the off-season recruiting and planning, Port Adelaide has actually gone backwards in 2018.

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PORT Adelaide have gone backwards in 2018.

Charlie Dixon and Chad Wingard have struggled to hit the scoreboard. The new recruits, Jack Watts, Steven Motlop and Tom Rockliff have failed to have a major impact, and the midfield minus Paddy Ryder for the most part have provided far less supply than what they had in 2017.

After seven rounds and losing three of their past four games, many pundits are now starting

to question the lofty predictions made for the Power at the start of the season.

Port Adelaide have the same win/loss ratio as at the same time last year. The major difference being they have been far less damaging with ball in hand in 2018, and they have had far less ball in hand, which is the real issue.

In simple terms Port’s ability to win contested ball has diminished. From there, less

contested ball means poor field position and less inside 50s, and as you would expect less

inside 50s translates into less goals.

When looking in more detail, the numbers are quite stark in comparison to last year, where

Port averaged five more contested possessions than their opposition, right now they are the

second worst team in the competition averaging 10 less than their opponents.

Round one against Fremantle being the only time they have won the contested ball count. That is 15 times a game when a disputed ball is headed the oppositions way, when last year it was headed the Power’s way.

No surprise then that Port Adelaide’s inside 50s are down from 62 to 52 per game as is their total score, a significant drop from 113 points per match down to 85. That’s over four goals a game.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley addresses his players at the quarter-time break against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium Picture: Will Russell/Getty

Coach Ken Hinkley didn’t try to hide his displeasure with his teams contested work after to loss to West Coast, agreeing in the post-match press conference when his side’s performance was described as soft.

While there needs to be a major attitude adjustment from last weekend, personnel changes also need to be made.

Paddy Ryder played just 66 per cent game time in his first game back from his achilles injury.

His load will increase as will his output, as he gains match fitness, giving the Port Adelaide midfielders the all-important first look around the stoppages.

Sam Powell-Pepper must play this week. His bash and crash style not only wins contested

ball but creates opportunities for others.

His three games this year for the Power have all been wins. The other change that must happen is the inclusion of Tom Rockliff.

After having over 30 disposals in his past two SANFL games for the Magpies, he has shown he is over his calf injury and ready to have an impact in the Power midfield.

Before being injured in round eight last year at Brisbane, Rockliff was the number one contested player in the competition, averaging 15 per game, including three games over 20. A feat no player at Port Adelaide has achieved this year.

In his first four outings with his new club, Rockliff has played mainly as a forward, with modest returns. His increased match fitness provides Hinkley with a perfect change up for Saturday’s Showdown.

With Rockliff and Powell-Pepper returning to the midfield, Robbie Gray can go back to being

a small forward, where he was named as an All-Australian last year.

As good as Gray has been around the ball in recent weeks, it robs the Power of a proven goal kicking weapon.

Gray has only kicked four goals so far in 2018, down from 18 after his first six games last season.

Couple that with the fact Wingard and Todd Marshall are missing and Charlie

Dixon’s form is indifferent, can they afford not to have him in front of the big sticks?

Let’s get back to my first statement, Port Adelaide have gone backwards, as chronicled

above, but most of it can be traced back to those contested ball numbers.

This week I’ve heard Hinkley and assistant coach Nathan Bassett both highlight how much time they are putting into contested work on the training track.

When that translates into the game the Power’s fortunes could change very quickly.

They will be hoping it starts this week, as a repeat of Showdown 43, where the

Crows won contested possession by 46 and the game by 84 points, will be a disaster.

If this happens again, Port Adelaide would be grateful for the flights to Shanghai to be immediately after the derby rather than on Monday night.