New midfield coach Jarrad Schofied promises some surprises to Port Adelaide’s on-ball brigade
New Port Adelaide midfield coach Jarrad Schofield has promised “some surprises’’ next season as the club looks to beef-up its one-dimensional midfield.
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New Port Adelaide midfield coach Jarrad Schofield has promised “some surprises’’ next season as the club looks to beef-up its one-dimensional on-ball brigade.
Heavily criticised for being strong and aggressive but lacking speed and class, the Power’s midfield suffered a couple of body blows last month when the pacy Jared Polec and playmaker Chad Wingard were traded to North Melbourne and Hawthorn respectively.
But Schofield, who is reluctant to give his public verdict on the Port midfield — “because I haven’t been on the inner sanctum long enough,’’ he said — has vowed to add “greater depth’’ and speed to the group.
The Power ranked No. 1 in clearances last season but its scoring plummeted from 98 to 75 points a game, highlighting the inefficiency and effectiveness of the midfield where mainstays Ollie Wines, Sam Powell-Pepper and Brad Ebert are similar, big-bodied players.
“There will be some surprises,’’ said Schofield, a 2004 Port premiership on-baller who has coached WAFL club Subiaco for the past six years, making five grand finals and winning three premierships.
“What I do know is that we have a very good midfield here but the one thing I will be looking to add is greater depth to the midfield, so we are not reliant on too few.
“You will definitely see that from me, adding to the mix. Who they are, we’ve got a whole pre-season to work that out.’’
Schofield would not reveal how many names would be added to the mix.
But he mentioned untried 19-year Western Australian Jake Patmore as being impressive on the training track early and said he would love to have Hawthorn recruit Ryan Burton — secured as part of the Wingard trade — as part of his on-ball brigade.
“I hope he's not pigeonholed as a back because he has good foot skills and elite running ability, so I will be putting his name up,’’ Schofield said.
Schofield said he hopes Port can boost its midfield further at next week’s national draft, where the club had three selections in the top 15 — five, 10 and 15.
“There’s going to be some good players there,’’ he said.
Former Lion Sam Mayes should also add to the Power’s midfield depth.
Schofield said while there had been much talk about Port’s lack of leg speed in the middle — and that won’t be helped by Polec’s departure — he said he classified speed as more than pure leg pace.
“Speed can be through leg speed or is it speed of mind or speed of ball in getting it from the inside to outside? I think it is a mixture of all that,’’ he said.
“In three weeks (at the club) and from what I’ve seen from afar we are very good on the inside.
“Do we need to be more efficient, I’ll have a look at that more closely.’’
Western Australian Schofield revealed he was first approached to join the Power as an assistant coach a year ago but finally felt the timing was right to make the move.
Schofield, who started his AFL career at West Coast before playing 131 games for Port from 1999-2004, led Subiaco to an unbeaten season this year and a record-breaking three premierships in league, reserves and colts.