Which talls will Port Adelaide play alongside Charlie Dixon in attack? We assess the Power’s options after their internal trial

Charlie Dixon showed in Port’s internal trial he was primed for Round 1. But which big men will join him in the Power’s forward line? Here’s what Friday night told us about their options.

Charlie Dixon impressed in Port Adelaide’s internal trial on Friday night. Picture: Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images

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How Port Adelaide structures its talls in attack is one of the most intriguing questions surrounding the Power line-up as round one approaches.

Barring injury, Charlie Dixon will definitely be there after impressing so far during pre-season, including playing well in the club’s internal trial at Alberton Oval on Friday night.

But just which other big men play alongside him in the forward line appears up in the air.

Todd Marshall, Peter Ladhams, Mitch Georgiades, Justin Westhoff and Wylie Buzza are all options.

The frontrunner to secure a spot looks to be first-year West Australian Georgiades.

Given he is just 18 and has not played a proper match since 2018, after missing last season with a thigh injury, there may have been a temptation to ease him into the campaign by allowing him to make his way through the SANFL.

Charlie Dixon looked strong and moved well for team black in Port’s internal trial on Friday night. Picture: Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Anyone who saw him play on Friday night would agree that would now seem unlikely.

Port senior assistant Michael Voss told SEN earlier that morning Georgiades was very much in the mix for the season-opener.

Hours later, Georgiades showed the attributes Voss had praised on radio – speed, strong marking, ability to get up the ground – during an eye-catching performance in the trial game, where he played on the same team as Dixon.

Speaking to reporters post-match, Voss said Port recruiting manager Geoff Parker had plucked a player with a great attitude and thirst for the contest at pick 18 last year.

“We’ll be talking about him and how he launches at the ball – he’s not afraid to jump into anyone’s way,” Voss said.

“You’d like him to temper it but you certainly don’t want to take that away from him.

“He’s gung ho in the contest and … his second efforts make him a real challenge to match up on.

“He’s got a lot of courage for a young player and as he builds his body and he builds his presence, he’s going to be a very strong force.”

Charlie Dixon has moved well, marked strongly and showed no sign of injury issues that hampered his 2019 season. Kicked this goal to finish third quarter of Port's internal trial. #weareportadelaide @TheTiserSport pic.twitter.com/PqFhlXXNDP

— Matt Turner (@mattturner1986) February 14, 2020

At the other end of the spectrum – and ground – on Friday night was Marshall.

While Georgiades played for the black team, which featured mainly first-choice players in the second half, Marshall lined up for the white side.

He found some of the footy but was easing his way back into the action and on restricted game time after recovering from injury.

There is still more than a month before round one but Marshall’s compromised pre-season may hurt his chances of featuring against Gold Coast.

With Ladhams, the main question is: will Port play him and Scott Lycett in a ruck tandem?

They broke even against each other on Friday and Voss said the club’s ideal model was that they would “both get a look”.

“Pistol can also play forward and if he can hold down a spot there, then Scotty take on that number one ruck mantle, that’d be a nice little combo to have,” he said.

As for Westhoff, it is likely that he will again float between positions at times in 2020, plugging gaps wherever coach Ken Hinkley sees fit.

But Friday was further evidence his immediate future was as a tall defender that offered a ruck chop-out, rather than up forward or on a wing.

Mitch Georgiades looks on track to play in Round 1. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Todd Marshall copped a knock near his ankle on Port’s pre-season camp. Picture: Sarah Reed

The veteran has been training in the backline over summer and looked at home down there in the trial, lining up on recruit Wylie Buzza early.

“He plays anywhere we need him and he’s got no problems with that at all,” Voss said.

No matter who joins Dixon in attack, he is unquestionably both crucial to Port’s forward structure and the club’s hopes of ending a three-year finals drought.

Since his arrival from the Gold Coast at the end of 2015, the Power has a 56 per cent record in games he plays and 42 per cent when he is out of the side.

Dixon only played nine games last season and never really got going after recovering from a horror leg injury in round 21 of the 2018 campaign.

Port missed the top eight by one win.

Now Dixon looks fit, hungry and is attacking the ball, holding marks, kicking goals and playing with confidence.

Charlie Dixon flies for a mark over Trent McKenzie on Friday night. Picture: Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“He’s been that way the whole pre-season – he’s full of energy,” Voss said.

“If a guy’s got a look in his eye about the way he wants to play and have a presence on the competition, it’s definitely Charlie.

“We need the big fella up there.

“He’s had a really strong pre-season and I’m sure he’s looking forward to making it real.”

Only Ollie Wines (shoulder) and Jackson Mead (hamstring) were unavailable for Port on Friday night.

Just as it did 12 months ago, Wines’ absence has led to a battle for a spot in the midfield, this time with Willem Drew, Joe Atley and Sam Mayes among those vying for it.

Like with its forward structure, Port has some interesting decisions to make on the ball.

“We’ve got plenty knocking, which is exactly what we want,” Voss said.

Port’s Marsh Community Series matches against Brisbane (February 23) and the Western Bulldogs (March 7) will reveal more about the Power’s likely round-one line-up.

Originally published as Which talls will Port Adelaide play alongside Charlie Dixon in attack? We assess the Power’s options after their internal trial