Showdown specialist Robbie Gray is the cream of the Port Adelaide crop in the 2010s
Robbie Gray has beaten out Travis Boak and Justin Westhoff as Port Adelaide’s best player of the past decade. SEE OUR TOP 20 LIST.
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Port Adelaide finished the decade in the same position it started it – 10th.
After a breakthrough AFL premiership in 2004 and making the finals six times from 2000-09, the Power didn’t reach the same heights from 2010-19.
The decade got off to a rocky start when premiership coach Mark Williams was fired after round 15, 2010, and replaced by former Power captain Matthew Primus.
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Port sank to a historic low of 16th in 2011, winning just three games, and 14th in 2012 before Primus joined Williams in the sacked coaches club.
The arrival of dual All-Australian half-back and 1992 Geelong club champion Ken Hinkley in 2013 triggered a dramatic turnaround.
The Power made the finals in his first year in charge, finishing fifth, and got to within a kick of the 2014 grand final when it lost a heartbreaking preliminary final to a far more accurate Hawthorn.
But the good times did not last.
Port has played just one final in the past five years, losing a 2017 home elimination final to West Coast in extra-time, leaving Hinkley under serious pressure to retain his job beyond next season.
But the club, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary next year, has churned out a host of high quality players in the past 10 years.
Here’s The Advertiser’s top 20 based on service and impact.
1. ROBBIE GRAY
2010-19
Forward/midfielder
Three best and fairests, four All-Australian selections, twice club leading goalkicker and a record five Showdown Medals, Gray was not only the Power’s player of the decade but is arguably its greatest ever player.
Can turn a game with his magic in the blink of an eye.
GAMES: 183. GOALS: 266.
SuperCoach AVE: 95.3.
2. TRAVIS BOAK
2010-19
Midfielder
Captain from 2013-18 and a super-consistent, loyal servant who rejected strong advances from Geelong in 2012 to stay at Port rather than head home to Victoria.
Won two best and fairests eight years apart (2011 and 2019), illustrating his supreme longevity, and is a dual All-Australian.
GAMES: 215. GOALS: 151.
SC AVE: 96.3.
3. JUSTIN WESTHOFF
2010-19
Tall utility
Popular, evergreen, 199cm swingman in on track to break Kane Cornes’ Power club record of 300 games (he’s on 268) after hardly missing a match in the 2010s.
Quiet off the field, he’s made a big noise on it through his unique ability to play as a forward, midfielder, ruckman or defender.
Won a club champion award at age 32.
GAMES: 218. GOALS: 227.
SC AVE: 88.0.
4. CHAD WINGARD
2012-18
Forward/midfielder
Loomed as one of Port’s all-time greats after he won the club’s best and fairest at age 20 in 2013 and was a dual All-Australian at 22.
But the brilliant left-footer – the Power’s leading goalkicker in 2015-16 – lost his way (his work ethic was questioned) and was traded to Hawthorn at the end of 2018.
GAMES: 147. GOALS: 232.
SC AVE: 85.2.
5. JAY SCHULZ
2010-16
Key forward
Former Tiger was a goalkicking powerhouse in his seven years at Port, winning four leading goalkicker awards in five seasons from 2010-14.
His best haul of 66 came in 2014 when he spearheaded the Power’s charge to a preliminary final.
Was a deadeye kick for goal.
GAMES: 123. GOALS: 275.
SC AVE: 76.1.
6. BRAD EBERT
2012-19
Midfielder/forward
Became one of Port’s most consistent performers after orchestrating a trade from West Coast at the end of 2011.
The nephew of four-times Magarey Medallist Russell Ebert, Brad was runner-up for the Power’s 2012 best and fairest and has averaged 20 disposals and five tackles.
GAMES: 170. GOALS: 96.
SC AVE: 92.8.
7. TOM JONAS
2011-19
Defender
2011 rookie draft selection was appointed sole captain for 2020 – and will wear the club’s famous No. 1 guernsey for the first time – after sharing the role with Ollie Wines last season. Club champion runner-up in 2018, Jonas is rock-solid on the field and a strong leader off it.
GAMES: 139. GOALS: 1.
SC AVE: 66.3.
8. OLLIE WINES
2013-19
Midfielder
Third in the 2013 Rising Star award, the powerhouse on-baller was co-captain with Jonas last season but has been relegated to a vice-captain for 2020.
Has twice been runner-up in the best and fairest and led the club’s Brownlow Medal votes in 2017 and ‘18.
GAMES: 141. GOALS: 63.
SC AVE: 93.8.
9. HAMISH HARTLETT
2010-19
Midfielder/half-back
The No. 4 draft pick in 2008 has long been one of Port’s most talented players but has been held back by injuries at the start and back end of his career.
A game-breaker on his day and current vice-captain, Hartlett has only once finished in the top 10 of the Power’s best-and-fairest, coming eighth in 2015.
GAMES: 153. GOALS: 68.
SC AVE: 88.6.
10. KANE CORNES
2010-15
Midfielder
Polarised Power fans but no player has won more club champion awards than Cornes, who shares the club record at four with key forward great Warren Tredrea.
Two of club AFL games record-holder Cornes’ awards were in the 2010s (2010 and 2012) where he combined winning the ball with shutting down an opposition playmaker.
GAMES: 116. GOALS: 17.
SC AVE: 91.7.
11. JACKSON TRENGOVE
2010-17
Key defender/ruckman
Joint club champion with Boak in 2011, he had the ability to play multiple roles, including key defender, ruck and key forward.
While Trengove played his best football in the backline, he heroicly carried the ruck in the absence of a banned Paddy Ryder and injured Matthew Lobbe in 2016.
Joined the Bulldogs as a free agent at the end of 2017.
GAMES: 153. GOALS: 30.
SC AVE: 64.0.
12. MATTHEW BROADBENT
2010-19
Defender
Runner-up in the 2012 club champion award, Broadbent was a long-kicking, metre-eating half-back who was a regular in the Port side until being cut down late in his career by serious foot and ankle injuries.
Delisted at the end of the season.
GAMES: 168. GOALS: 49.
SC AVE: 77.4.
13. PADDY RYDER
2015, 2017-19
Ruckman/forward
The athletic big man left Essendon over the supplements scandal and enjoyed a career-best season in 2017 when he was an All-Australian and Port’s best and fairest winner.
Fell down the Power ruck pecking order this year and has joined St Kilda but his spectacular tap to Robbie Gray which beat the Saints two years ago will long live in the memory.
GAMES: 73. GOALS: 54.
SC AVE: 90.6.
14. JARED POLEC
2014-18
Wingman
After three seasons at Brisbane, the 2010 No. 5 draft pick joined Port and made an instant impact, starring in the club’s preliminary final year of 2014 where his pace and long left-foot kick were weapons.
Career nosedived briefly after suffering a serious foot injury but he rebounded to average 25 disposals in 2018 before joining North Melbourne.
GAMES: 90. GOALS: 46.
SC AVE: 82.8.
15. CHARLIE DIXON
2016-19
Key forward
Powerful physical specimen has been Port’s go-to key forward since joining from Gold Coast at the end of 2015.
Was the team’s leading goalkicker in 2017, kicking 49, and runner-up best and fairest.
Badly broke his leg late in 2018, restricting him to nine games this year.
GAMES: 70. GOALS: 118.
SC AVE: 77.7.
16. ALIPATE CARLILE
2010-16
Key defender
Fijian-born Carlile was a mainstay of Port’s defence from 2010-14, holding down full back and prompting coach Ken Hinkley to describe him as “a general and one of the smartest players I’ve been involved with as far as seeing the game of football’’.
Injuries forced his premature retirement at 29.
GAMES: 114. GOALS: 3.
SC AVE: 60.3.
17. JASPER PITTARD
2010-18
Defender
Like Cornes, the dashing, left-footed, half-back flanker polarised Power supporters, mainly due to his, at times, comical errors.
But he enjoyed several strong seasons, including in 2016 when he was an All-Australian nominee and third in best and fairest voting.
Was traded to the Kangaroos at the end of 2018.
GAMES: 126. GOALS: 11.
SC AVE: 73.3.
18. SAM GRAY
2014-19
Small forward/midfielder
Rookie draft pick took until 2017 to establish himself in Port’s team but kicked 69 goals in the past three seasons, while averaging 17 disposals.
Only Robbie Gray (107) and Dixon (88) have kicked more goals for the Power in that time.
Joined Sydney at the end of the season.
GAMES: 96. GOALS: 83.
SC AVE: 74.2.
19. DOM CASSISI
2010-14
Midfielder
Captain from 2010-12 and won the Fos Williams Medal as best team man, as voted by his Power teammates, in 2010 and 2011.
Was a popular, no-nonsense leader who wasn’t flashy but led from the front and was as fearless and determined as they come.
GAMES: 79. GOALS: 12.
SC AVE: 86.9
20. DARCY BYRNE-JONES
2016-19
Defender
Took until his third year on the list to play an AFL game but has played 86 of the club’s 89 matches since, illustrating his durability and dependability.
Transformed from pure lockdown backman to playmaker this year, averaging 22 disposals and finishing runner-up in the best and fairest.
GAMES: 86. GOALS: 6.
SC AVE: 72.4.
