Need to settle new players has Port Adelaide looking at powerful line-up for pre-season opener

AFTER signing 11 news players in a busy October market, Port Adelaide has need to hit JLT pre-season series with its best against West Coast in Perth later this month.

Hamish Hartlett in action during Port Adelaide's first intra-club match.

PORT Adelaide will launch the shortened AFL pre-season at the end of the month with its best line-up - out of need to settle its new-look first 22 rather than in reaction to the shorter JLT Community Series.

Key forward Charlie Dixon, a late withdrawal from Saturday’s internal trial with a minor back complaint, is to be part of the Power’s plans for the JLT opener against West Coast in Perth on Sunday, February 25.

Ollie Wines gets his kick away under pressure from Jake Neade.

But the powerful forward will not feature in the new short-form AFLX series the league will launch at Hindmarsh Stadium on Thursday. This is purely out of noting the seven-aside, 20-minute game is not suited to Dixon rather than any concern created by the back issue that kept him off Alberton Oval on Saturday.

Port Adelaide today (Monday) will settle its squad for the AFLX series with the Power now able to nominate 20 players - rather than the original plan of 10 - for the six-team competition that also features Adelaide, Collingwood, Geelong, West Coast and Fremantle.

The Power is committing star midfielder-forward Robbie Gray and prime Melbourne recruit Jack Watts to the AFLX series after the pair were excused from the intra-club trial to attend a wedding.

Port Adelaide’s AFLX squad will feature the Power’s speed machines, allowing fans to get a look at the revitalised No. 61 draftee, former Melbourne player Dom Barry.

Port Adelaide’s pre-season agenda is significantly influenced by the overhaul of the player list created by making 11 changes in the summer. And the AFL’s decision to cut from three to two JLT pre-season matches forces coach Ken Hinkley to look at his strongest line-up from the start of the “practice” matches.

Tom Jonas and Todd Marshall tussle at Port Adelaide's first intra-club match at Alberton. Picture: Tom Huntley

Port Adelaide’s recruiting of free agents Tom Rockliff (Brisbane) and Steven Moltop (Geelong) and Melbourne pair, former captain Jack Trengove and Watts, delivers a new-look midfield and forward mix at Alberton - and the need to see how it functions against meaning AFL opposition as soon as possible.

The effectiveness of the new line-up against the Eagles will then determine Port Adelaide’s needs for the JLT closer against Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday March 10 - a fortnight before the AFL premiership-season opener against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval.

Port Adelaide reported no injury from the internal trial.

Port Adelaide’s reputation for proving an ideal club at which to revive or restart an AFL career continues to hold by the form shown by Trengove, a midfielder restricted by injury to just seven games in his last four seasons at Melbourne.

“I was really impressed by the way Trengove played,” said Power midfield coach Michael Voss. “He has come in and played a role for us straight away.”