Warren Tredrea: The burning questions Port Adelaide and Adelaide Crows must answer to deliver in 2018

PORT Adelaide and the Crows both have questions hanging over their premiership ambitions for 2018, writes Warren Tredrea.

Matt Crouch ponders what might have been after the grand final loss. The Crows will have to learn from its mistakes to go one better in 2018.

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FOOTY’S back and about time.

It’s been six months since Richmond held aloft the premiership cup and since then the 18 clubs have returned to the 2018 starting gates fitter, stronger and refreshed and with the dream of playing finals football.

But as bullish as we are about our club’s chances, serious questions hang over our team’s ability to deliver in 2018.

Adelaide and Port Adelaide head into Round 1 with great expectation having bolstered their playing stocks in deficient areas with the high-profile additions of Bryce Gibbs at Adelaide and Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop and Jack Watts at Port.

And while the season’s pressure cooker is about to be turned up to all-consuming levels, questions must be convincingly answered for our teams to improve in 2018.

Adelaide must give skipper Taylor Walker the time he needs to be 100 per cent fit.

ADELAIDE

Has Adelaide replaced the off-season defections of Charlie Cameron and Jake Lever?

Not yet.

While Cameron was inconsistent with his output, he possessed electrifying speed and brilliant defensive pressure in Adelaide’s attacking 50. His ability to run down opponents from behind and hold the ball in the Crows forward 50 was second to none and he is yet to be replaced.

Demon Jake Lever is another who polarises opinion - often exposed when defending his opponent one-on-one but without doubt he’s one of the best intercept marking defenders in the game. His ability to sag off his opponent and mark the high ball was vital to Don Pyke’s attacking, high-scoring game plan.

And while Tom Doedee will debut on Friday night, neither he nor six-gamer Alex Keath play like Lever with composure on the ball and an attacking intercept mark mindset – rather like a lockdown defender.

We mustn’t forget lethal weapon Brodie Smith is another player who must also be adequately replaced – no easy task.

Can Adelaide’s big forwards continue to dominate?

They’re good enough but individually their pre-season form is far from ideal.

Josh Jenkins has had a slow start to the season and needs to do more.

Skipper Taylor Walker’s pre-season has been horribly interrupted with foot issues and he is out of tomorrow night’s season-opener against Essendon.

And instead of rushing him back for Round 2 Adelaide must take the ultra-cautious approach and give him all the time he needs to fully recover so when he does return he is 100 per cent fit.

Adelaide’s high-scoring forward line is built off the back of a dominant midfield which wins the ball in great field position. But what last year’s grand final highlighted was the forwards’ inability to beat or nullify their opponent in the contest when the midfield silver service falls away – this must improve.

Can Adelaide deal with the entire football world’s expectations that it must go one step better in 2018?

Adelaide had a brilliant season last year, playing an attractive high-scoring brand of football – they envy of the competition. But on the biggest stage of all, grand final day, the Crows were beaten up by a more disciplined, ruthless Richmond outfit.

High stakes game losses can go two ways – you can use the loss to spur you on to greater heights or crumble under the weight of expectation. Football is unforgiving – you either sink or swim – there are no guarantees you improve year-on-year.

It’s only when you get yourself back into the same position again that you’ll be able to execute under the intense focus on grand final day and learn from past mistakes.

Steven Motlop is one player who will give Ken Hinkley an added offensive weapon.

PORT ADELAIDE

Will the big three off-season additions of Rockliff, Motlop and Watts fix Port’s attacking problems?

No – the three players in question have certainly improved Port’s list depth, but they alone will not guarantee success.

Port has been crying out for more offensive weapons forward of centre and club list manager Jason Cripps delivered coach Ken Hinkley his off-season wish landing all three players.

Power fans needn’t be reminded of what happened in last season’s after-the-siren elimination final loss to West Coast when Port had more inside 50’s and more shots on goal but still lost. The sublimely talented trio will definitely help Port’s cause to march up the ladder but they can’t do it alone.

Will Ken Hinkley’s inexperienced backline survive against more mature, match-hardened opposition?

Time will tell – but if a class defender like Jack Hombsch can’t make the Power’s Round 1 team the kids must be doing their job.

The combination of the return to form of Tom Jonas, the emergence of Tom Clurey and explosive speed of youngster Dougal Howard looks solid. Throw in the uncompromising Darcy Byrne-Jones and highly skilled half-back flankers in Houston, Hartlett and Riley Bonner and Ken Hinkley’s defence is inexperienced but highly effective.

And if Port’s midfield come to play and dominates field position, they will survive and prosper as they gain valuable experience.

Is Port mentally strong enough to stand up and deliver when the stakes are at their highest?

No yet – they haven’t been able to do it when they’re challenged by the best teams. And only when they rise to the occasion and answer the challenge against genuine finals contenders will they be taken seriously by the rest of the competition.

They have the talent but it’s time to stand up and deliver.

If Adelaide and Port can answer the tough questions with their performances in 2018, South Australian football fans are in for one hell of an exciting ride.

Both SA clubs have gone all in – there are no excuse as they have the talent, now it’s time to deliver.