Port Adelaide’s coaches are confident the break will bring out the best in the Power

PORT Adelaide’s coaches believe the break in the season can be the circuit breaker that finally brings out the best in the Power.

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PORT Adelaide’s coaching staff has had an informal mid-season review and singled out managing to scrape out wins without being anywhere top form as one of the upsides to 2018.

Senior assistant coach Matthew Nicks noted clubs such as West Coast and North Melbourne has had between eight and 10 players performing at close to career-best levels.

At the same time, the Power struggled to find players other than defender Tom Jonas and captain Travis Boak among those who were playing near their best.

Port Adelaide Power players train at Alberton Oval on Thursday. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

The assessment has left the club bullish with the players now rested after having a break after the match in China against Gold Coast and ready to embark on the final 13 rounds of the season.

“We’ve had a little bit more time to get together and have some discussions,” Nicks told The Advertiser. “We sit six (wins) and three (losses) — and how can we improve again?

“From a positive point of view — even though it probably doesn’t sound that positive — we’re not playing our best football at the moment and that’s across the board.

“We’re not shooting the lights out.

“Obviously Richmond is very much up and about, North Melbourne is also playing at a really high standard, West Coast, obviously.

“You look across their 22 and they’ve got some guys who are in really good form, we’re talking eight or 10 players who are playing the best football we’ve seen from them.

“At the moment you look across our group and there’s a lot of room for improvement.

“We’ve been able to scratch out wins, get six wins on the board and that’s a good sign for us because we can still bet better.

The in-form Tom Jonas gets a handpass away from Eddie Betts during the Showdown. Picture Sarah Reed

A big preseason is paying off for Power skipper Travis Boak. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

“A guy like Tom Jonas is probably playing some of the best football I’ve seen — he’s stepping up and playing at a really high level.

“Travis Boak, like you said, is having a really strong year.

“But other than that … there’s so much room to improve.”

Nicks expected the break after the Shanghai match to make a difference.

Port’s players should be fresh and full of energy as they face Hawthorn in Launceston on Saturday, though Todd Marshall appears unlikely to make the trip. He was a notable absentee from training at Alberton Oval on Thursday after sustainting a shoulder injury in the SANFL.

“It (the break) has come at a good time,” Nicks said. “For our players it’s great to freshen them up and we’re hoping they’ll come back refreshed and we’ll get a couple of weeks from them when they’re really up and about.”