Club by club: Key forwards in final year of contracts for Port Adelaide ahead of bumper 2024 season
While Connor Rozee and Zak Butters are locked away, several key pieces of Port Adelaide’s forward line are in limbo going into 2024. Who will earn a new contract?
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Port Adelaide will still be stinging from how its 2023 season ended.
But the Power believes it remains a premiership threat, boosted by strong recruitment and a core group of young stars such as new skipper Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis.
PORT ADELAIDE
Coach: Ken Hinkley
Captain: Connor Rozee
The Power will be under scrutiny from the outset again this year after another underwhelming finals exit.
Losing to Brisbane at the Gabba was not a surprise, but Port hardly looked like it against GWS at home the next week, going down by 23 points.
The Power was aggressive during the trade period, adding Ivan Soldo, Esava Ratugolea, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Jordon Sweet.
Questions remain about Port’s finals credentials, something it will hoping to shrug off as the club marks the 20th anniversary of its maiden AFL flag success next year.
What happened in 2023?
Things were looking rosy for the Power when it won 13 games in a row and was on track to book a top-two spot and home qualifying final.
When its momentum was halted by a 50-point defeat to Carlton at Marvel Stadium in round 18, Port lost four games in succession and never really got going again.
A home qualifying final did not happen and the Power was knocked out of September in straight sets.
The way the season ended heaped external pressure on the club and Ken Hinkley.
The coach endured a rollercoaster campaign, starting with Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea deeming his position untenable after opening 1-2.
The Power’s other leaders were also in the headlines.
Captain Tom Jonas was dropped to the SANFL then retired, former skipper Travis Boak looked headed for the exit door, only to stay, and Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines was shifted to a wing and struggled in the finals.
However, emerging leaders Butters and Rozee’s midfield moves proved masterstrokes, leading to All-Australian selections, a one-two finish in the best-and-fairest and some scintillating team footy.
The Power strengthened its ruck and key defensive depth during the trade period, bringing in four players but losing 2018 first-round pick Xavier Duursma to Essendon.
Where do they finish in 2024?
It feels like Port Adelaide is poised for a similar finish — in the fourth to sixth range.
The Power will need a lot go right to make a grand final, including Charlie Dixon’s availability (he has missed 21 games in the past two seasons), Butters and Rozee to stay healthy, Todd Marshall, Mitch Georgiades, Jeremy Finlayson or Ollie Lord to take a leap in their development and the team to stand up under knockout finals pressure.
Port has addressed two glaring list issues.
It had been exposed against some of the best teams in the ruck and by having an undersized defence.
None of the recruits are stars, but they should help keep Port in top-four contention next season.
The Power has a relatively soft early draw on paper, playing four of its first six matches at home and only two 2023 finalists in that span.
So the opportunity is there to set up its campaign nicely.
Biggest improver in 2024?
Josh Sinn has played four games in his first two seasons since arriving at the Power via pick 12 in the 2021 national draft.
Port traded up to get the Victorian, sending its 2022 second-round selection to West Coast to move up two spots.
Injuries have hurt his chances of pushing for a regular AFL spot and he has not stood out when he has played. Sinn has been limited to just 14 SANFL games.
But his line-breaking speed and penetrating left foot can benefit the Power, which now has a wing spot available after Duursma’s departure.
Now 20 years old, Sinn has a chance to become a first-choice player next season if he can get his body right.
X-factor
Horne-Francis had a stellar first season at Alberton.
Under immense media and fan scrutiny after his homecoming trade from North Melbourne one year into his career, Horne-Francis went on to finish 22nd in the Brownlow Medal and seventh in the Power’s club champion award.
The 20-year-old, taken at pick 1 in the 2021 national draft, has the potential to be one of the game’s best players.
He attended 58 per cent of centre bounces in 2023, which you would expect to increase again. Big strides from Horne-Francis in the coming campaign could help Port climb the ladder.
Horne-Francis looks to be putting himself on the platform for a successful 2024, joining veteran teammate Travis Boak on one of his annual off-season training trips to the US.
With Patrick Dangerfield-like traits, Horne-Francis might be on a similar trajectory.
Coach status
Port Adelaide stuck to its deadline to make a decision on Hinkley’s future in August, ultimately re-signing him until the end of 2025.
But the Power’s straight-sets exit made some outsiders question whether the club should have waited until post-season.
Port and Hinkley will continue to be judged on their finals performances.
Senior assistant and Power premiership star Josh Carr looms as a potential successor down the track.
Who is in last year of contract?
Aliir Aliir, Charlie Dixon, Francis Evans, Jackson Mead, Jeremy Finlayson, Kyle Marshall, Lachie Jones, Quinton Narkle, Todd Marshall, Tom McCallum, Tom Scully, Travis Boak, Trent McKenzie
Outs for 2024
Xavier Duursma (trade, Essendon), Orazio Fantasia (delisted, Carlton), Tom Jonas (retired), Scott Lycett (retired), Riley Bonner (delisted, St Kilda), Sam Hayes (delisted), Brynn Teakle (delisted), Trent Dumont (delisted), Nathan Barkla (delisted)
Ins for 2024
Ivan Soldo (trade, Richmond), Esava Ratugolea (trade, Geelong), Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (trade, Essendon), Jordon Sweet (trade, Western Bulldogs), Tom Anastasopoulos (No.48 draft pick), Lachie Charleson (No.52 draft pick), Will Lorenz (No.57 draft pick), Xavier Walsh (rookie draft)
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Originally published as Club by club: Key forwards in final year of contracts for Port Adelaide ahead of bumper 2024 season
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