Powering On: Port Adelaide moves a step closer to the holy grail, plus player ratings
PORT Adelaide was one kick from a Grand Final, see how Andrew Capel reviewed the Power’s season and his 2014 player ratings.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
PORT Adelaide was one kick from a grand final.
And if it had made it to the Big Dance a second AFL premiership banner might have been hanging from the rafters at Alberton given Hawthorn’s demolition of Sydney on the last Saturday in September.
Apart from a mid-to-late season collapse when the Power lost six of eight games to slump from first to fifth at the end of the minor round, Ken Hinkley’s well-drilled outfit enjoyed a stellar season and took a second consecutive big step towards becoming a competition powerhouse.
After starting a phenomenal 10-1 and finishing with meritorious finals wins against Richmond at home and Fremantle on the road before heartbreakingly losing the preliminary final to Hawthorn by three points, the Power - on its knees before Hinkley arrived two years ago - has positioned itself for an era of success.
Early betting markets have Port, which won 16 games this season, third favourite for next year’s flag behind the Swans and Hawks.
Travis Boak this year established himself as not only one of the best players in the competition but also one of the best skippers, with Hinkley rating him alongside inspirational Cats captain Joel Selwood.
Robbie Gray rose from super talent to superstar, winning the AFL Coaches Association’s Player of the Year award and having Hinkley declare he should have won the Brownlow Medal.
Midfielder Ollie Wines produced one of the greatest second seasons of any draftee, veteran Jay Schulz kicked a career-high 66 goals and Matthew Lobbe showed how big his heart is by rucking solo all season.
Key off-season recruits Matt White and Jared Polec added speed and skill to the side to help take Port from fifth last year to third this season.
The Power, which has enormous faith in the intense fitness program run by Darren Burgess, lived up to its “never give up’’ catchcry by winning 18 final quarters for the season — ranked No.1 in the competition.
And its young defence stood tall, restricting the opposition to a lowly 77 points a game, despite featuring only one player with 100 games under his belt, full back Alipate Carlile.
Port’s biggest weaknesses were the lack of a second ruckman to support Lobbe following serious injuries to Jarrad Redden and the now-delisted Brent Renouf and a third key forward to help Schulz and Justin Westhoff.
But those problems seem likely to be solved in the trade period with the Power working on deals to bring Essendon star ruckman/forward Paddy Ryder and young Gold Coast big man Daniel Gorringe to Alberton.
Hinkley knows his list is well-positioned to have a strong crack at next year’s premiership but he stressed success won’t come without improvement.
“They’ve got to come back to work,’’ he said of his players.
“They know that the challenge now is back fair and square in their hands about how hard they are going to have to work.
“As I said last year if you don’t work hard, harder than you did the year before, you will slip up and lose ground in this competition.
“It’s incredibly tight and incredibly tough and you’ve got to stay in it for every second and that means every training session, even in the off-season.’’
POWER 2014 REPORT CARD
A+
TRAVIS BOAK
The skipper led from the front brilliantly - on and off the field. Was named an All-Australian for the second consecutive year and was Port’s leading Brownlow Medal votegetter with 21.
ROBBIE GRAY
Rose from being good to superb, winning the AFLCA’s best player award. Kicked 42 goals, averaged 25 disposals and led the league in score assists (56) and goal assists (33). A genuine superstar.
A
ALIPATE CARLILE
Had the best year of his career at full back, shutting down opponents and providing solid rebound. When he didn’t play, Port struggled.
HAMISH HARTLETT
Kept his fragile body in good nick to play an equal career-high 22 games and enjoyed the most consistent season of his career, averaging 22 disposals and kicking 21 goals.
MATTHEW LOBBE
Port’s Braveheart inspirationally rucked solo all year and amazingly laid more tackles (157) than any other Power player to go along with 761 hit-outs at an average of 31.7.
JAY SCHULZ
Passed the 50-goal mark for the first time in his career, booting 66, and was one of the competition’s standout forwards. Brave and inspirational and the leader of the attack.
OLLIE WINES
Tough-as-nails midfielder produced one of the greatest second seasons by a draftee, with half of his 609 disposals being contested. A raging bull who just loves a contest.
B+
BRAD EBERT
Workaholic on-baller tailed off slightly in the second half of the season after a dominant first. His 40-disposal effort against Sydney in round 13 will long be remembered.
JACK HOMBSCH
Doesn’t get the recognition of some of his higher profile teammates but he is as courageous as they come. Beat high-profile opponents down back and took intercept marks.
JUSTIN WESTHOFF
Port’s Mr Fix-it booted 29 goals, averaged 19 disposals and a team-high seven marks and gave Matthew Lobbe an important chop out in the ruck.
B
MATTHEW BROADBENT
Solid across half-back where he proved his value as an intercept mark and playmaker. Led Port in rebound 50s with 90.
KANE CORNES
Continued to find plenty of the ball as well as playing some key tagging roles. Veteran deserved contact extension which should see him next year become the Power’s first 300-game player.
TOM JONAS
No frills defender proved his versatility and importance by outpointing taller and smaller opponents. Was rarely beaten and averaged 15 disposals.
JARED POLEC
Was a revelation in his first year at Port after crossing from Brisbane, adding some class and speed to Ken Hinkley’s side. Finally lived up to his top-five draft standing.
JACKSON TRENGOVE
Importance to the Power was highlighted by the team losing three of the five matches he missed through injury and just getting over the line in the other two. His leadership is vital.
CHAD WINGARD
Started brilliantly, hit a midyear hurdle and finished strongly. Emerging superstar didn’t live up to his 2013 All-Australian form, averaging five fewer disposals, but 43 goals is still a good return.
B -
JASPER PITTARD
Took a significant step forward by playing all 25 games and averaging a career-high 16 disposals and 3.6 rebound 50s. Just has to reduce the defensive turnovers.
MATT WHITE
The man stuck with the green sub’s vest at Richmond produced a dynamic first year with his new club, breaking games open with his speed and kicking 25 goals before being restricted by injury late.
C+
ANGUS MONFRIES
Struggled with injury after a career-best season in 2013, missing eight games and kicking only 17 goals. Saved his best for last, booting four goals in the preliminary final against the Hawks.
JARMAN IMPEY
Good rookie season by the Power’s first pick at last year’s draft. Played 18 games and displayed some real dash and playmaking ability from defence before losing his place for the finals.
C
DOM CASSISI
Former captain retired after the round 18 win against Melbourne, saying his body could no longer cope with the demands of the AFL. Played his role in Port’s strong year.
SAM GRAY
Classy small forward started the year on the rookie list and made a dazzling, three-goal debut against the Lions in round four. Played seven games, averaging 12 disposals and a goal.
KANE MITCHELL
Played nine of his 10 games from rounds eight to 17 when Port lost players to injury, averaging 14 disposals, before finishing the year stuck on the emergency list. Still not the finished product.
ANDREW MOORE
Struggled with injury early and played only one game until round 19 before featuring in the last eight, including all three finals. A talent but could be used as trade bait for Paddy Ryder.
JAKE NEADE
Form battle saw him play only one game until 20 but then reeled off seven straight including all three finals where he proved his value as a will-of-the-wisp small forward goalkicker.
CAM O’SHEA
Played only two of the first 14 games but finished strongly by featuring in 10 of the last 11 where he played some of his best football, averaging 19 disposals. Has been linked to St Kilda.
AARON YOUNG
Played a career-high 14 games, including several as sub, and showed plenty of promise with his strength and strong run and carry. Would have played more but for a bad foot injury.
C-
BEN NEWTON
Finally made his AFL debut against GWS in round seven after four years on the list. Played four games for the season but is yet to establish himself in the side.
PAUL STEWART
Four games for the season was his lowest return since he debuted in 2008. A disappointing year but was rewarded with a two-year contract extension because of his versatility.
D
JOHN BUTCHER
Key forward is surely on the trade table after playing just three games and kicking two goals. The No. 8 draft pick in 2009 can mark but his kicking his dreadful.
TOM CLUREY
Debuted in round one against Carlton but that was it for the year as he spent the season refining his game in the SANFL. Has potential as a long-term key defender.
TOM LOGAN
Popular clubman and courageous player lost his spot in the side, despite strong SANFL form.
Played just three games and has been passed by more playmaking backmen.
BRENT RENOUF
Played just the one game against Fremantle in round eight, managing three disposals, before having his season ended by a knee injury. Has been delisted.
*Only players who played a game a senior game were rated.
COACH
KEN HINKLEY
A
Terrific coaching performance from Hinkley, who has taken the club from basket case to fifth and third in his two years in charge. Is respected around the league for his strong leadership, communication with players and game day strategy. His next big challenge is to carry the Power to a flag. With Essendon’s Paddy Ryder expected to jump on board to fill a glaring need that could come as early as next year.
Hall’s long-distance Gallen plan
Barry Hall has revealed how he plans to beat his shorter but more experienced opponent in their much-anticipated bout.
Hall gets kick from little masters
Andrew Moloney is the hot favourite to become Australia’s only current world boxing champion when he battles Brooklyn’s Elton Dharry on the same night that his mate Barry Hall fights Paul Gallen.