The Lowdown Round 15: All the likes and dislikes from Port Adelaide’s loss

The Power went hunting for ruck talent two years ago and found Jordan Sweet and Ivan Soldo. But with one subbed off and one in the SANFL on the weekend – where to from here?

It was a miserable weekend as a Port Adelaide fan after a disappointing loss to the Swans in Adelaide, while Crows fans had a break from the bustle of AFL football as Adelaide had the bye.

Simeon Thomas-Wilson and Matt Turner list their likes and dislikes from the Power’s weekend.

DISLIKES

1. PORT’S RUCK ISSUE

Port Adelaide’s ruck issue is back on the table. Ahead of last season the Power went hard to address its skinny ruck stocks. One of them Jordon Sweet was subbed off on the weekend, while the other Ivan Soldo is in the SANFL having only played in Round 3 against Essendon and you’d be shocked if he is playing an AFL game again this season.

Dante Visentini battles against Brodie Grundy. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

Jordan Sweet and Darcy Cameron. Picture: Michael Klein

Soldo tried to move to St Kilda at the end of last year, will he seek a move again? Dante Visentini has a lot of potential and has been pretty good since he has come into the side, but is still a work in progress. He will have a crack but there will be games where he is just outgunned by a big dog like Sydney’s Brodie Grundy. We thought the Power had solved its ruck problems but there are issues.

2. DID ROZEE NEED TO STAY IN DEFENCE?

The knee injury to Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines meant the Power had to fill a spot in its midfield. But was moving captain Connor Rozee back there the wrong call? Even though he is a Brownlow Medallist it seems like Wines doesn’t get the flowers he deserves from footy fans. This year he is having his best season for years, even though he was subbed out against Sydney at the SCG after his heart issue flared up again, and has been providing a vital role for the Power in the midfield.

It was a big hole Wines left in the midfield but should Rozee have been the one to fill it? They are completely different players, Wines a contested beast, while Rozee is all about skill and speed. But with Aliir Aliir also missing against the Swans did the Power rob Peter and not pay Paul? Rozee going back to defence was in part to add some leadership to the backline. Aliir is a leader in the backline himself so was too much taken out in the Power’s attempt to replace Wines in the midfield?

3. NOT HAPPENING

The fast-paced, high-scoring style that we were promised by Port Adelaide just isn’t happening in 2025. Not having Todd Marshall for the entire year, and recruit Jack Lukosius for a game and a couple of minutes so far hasn’t helped but the pre-season predictions have not been realised by the Power so far this year. Saturday’s loss to the Swans was the seventh time this season the Power has recorded final scores of 70 points or fewer. It isn’t screaming more attacking at all.

Ken Hinkley’s Power has not been playing as quickly as some expected in the pre-season. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

LIKES

1. MORE PEPP IN PORT’S STEP

Throwing Sam Powell-Pepper into the midfield looks to be a ploy used by Ken Hinkley when the Power is getting thoroughly beaten or are just looking really flat. So far this year Powell-Pepper has gotten CBA’s against St Kilda in Round 4 (15 per cent), the Western Bulldogs in Round 8 (21 per cent), Geelong in Round 10 (16 per cent), Fremantle in Round 11 (16 per cent) and against Sydney (21 per cent) on Saturday.

Sam Powell-Pepper and Esava Ratugolea. Should Ken Hinkley push Powell-Pepper into the middle? Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Power have lots of guys that can go through the midfield but surely Powell-Pepper could be used as a spark in there a bit more? The Power have needed sparks a lot more this year than in previous years. Powell-Pepper himself would like to spend more time in the midfield. The Power’s engine room has largely been off this year, so could he help get it running again?

Originally published as The Lowdown Round 15: All the likes and dislikes from Port Adelaide’s loss