Justin Westhoff says the experience of recruits can not be underestimated at Port Adelaide

VETERAN Port Adelaide utility Justin Westhoff believes the experience and flexibility of the six traded-in players will be the club’s greatest ally as it charges for its first flag since 2004.

Justin Westhoff of the Power kicks the ball during the JLT Community Series.

VETERAN Port Adelaide utility Justin Westhoff believes the experience and flexibility of the six traded-in players will be the club’s greatest ally as it charges for its first premiership since the landmark 2004 flag.

And Westhoff, 31, who enters his 12th season with 226 games under his belt, says the influx of players have brought a fresh wind of enthusiasm and has him wanting to continue playing for years to come.

The Power traded in six players from other clubs: Jack Watts and Jack Trengove (Melbourne), Steven Motlop (Geelong), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane), Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast) and Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne).

Justin Westhoff and Jack Watts of the Power during the JLT Community Series.

Westhoff, who was at a school visit at Lenswood Primary School on Friday, also hinted the Power would play four talls in attack at times this season — Charlie Dixon, Jack Watts, Todd Marshall and himself — rather than copying premiership side Richmond’s way of going smaller in attack.

But the key to what Watts — who kicked six goals in last weekend’s practice match against Adelaide — and the other recruits had added was experience which could fast-track the rest of the group along with the obvious talent they added to the mix.

“We’ve struggled a bit with forward efficiency and he (Watts) has come in and as you saw on the weekend he’s an amazing set shot for goal,” Westhoff said. “He’ll definitely bring that up.

“But just to bring a little bit more experience into the forward line along with a few other guys is obviously a bonus for us.

“To have those guys on brings a wealth of experience and can help bring younger guys up. pretty quickly.

“To have those guys come in we’re obviously better placed.

“We’ll be able to mix it up a bit.

“To have another tall forward in there ... to have that three-pronged attack and then add in guys like Chad Wingard and Robbie Gray is pretty potent.

“With ‘Toddy’, I think he can play small as well as anyone ... we’ll tried that tall forward line a bit over pre-season and as long as those guys are tackling and doing as much as anyone else there’s no reason why that won’t be an option.

“I think we’ll definitely go to that at times throughout the year.”

Westhoff is expected to help out Paddy Ryder with ruck duties this year with Jackson Trengove leaving for the Western Bulldgos over summer.

And he feels like there are several seasons left in the tank rather than thinking it is getting close to the end of his career.

“I think this year, with the guys who have come across, it has just brought another breath into your career,” Westhoff said. “And seeing the young players come along — you don’t want to miss out on that.

“I’ll be pushing as hard as ever to play as many years as I can.

“I feel as good as I have been for many years, injury-free and excited to still play footy at the top level.”