Port Adelaide deep dive: The changes thrusting Power back into contention

Connor Rozee’s move to halfback has coincided with Port Adelaide getting its season back on track. But the captain reveals the real change that has Port rediscovering its DNA.

The resurrection of Port Adelaide’s 2025 season continues as the Power hung on for a big win against Sydney to square its ledger after six games and get well and truly back in the hunt.

And while the move of Connor Rozee to halfback again reaped rewards for the Power, the captain himself revealed what has actually been behind the salvation of the campaign following a slow start to the season.

After a 1-3 start, the patch of games where many were banking on the Power to get the wins, Ken Hinkley’s side is now 3-3 after defeating Hawthorn and now Sydney in consecutive weeks.

It is a stark transformation for a side that was so disappointing in the losses to Collingwood and Essendon.

Rozee said staying “a little bit more skinny” when going forward had helped the Power turn the tables.

Port Adelaide forwards Tom Cochrane, Willie Rioli and Sam Powell-Pepper celebrate a goal. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos

“I think we have got back to our DNA a bit, which is pressure and contest and then finding a bit of composure when we need it,” he said.

“That has been our strength in the past and I think we have gotten back to that.

“I think that is probably the main thing.

“In pre-season we were probably training our offence a fair bit to try and attack the weak side and really run at teams because we didn’t have as many big key forwards there with Charlie (Dixon) no longer there.

“So trying to change angles and go out the other side a bit more but we have found over the last couple of weeks staying a little bit more skinny but also mixing it up when we have to is keeping teams on their toes a bit more and we can play more front of centre football.”

The move of Rozee to halfback has also given the Power its potency from defence again.

After looking like it would be a committee approach to replace Dan Houston after his move to Collingwood, Rozee has gone into defence for the last two games and has driven the Power forward.

Connor Rozee is swamped by teammates Jason Horne-Francus and Ollie Wines. Picture: Michael Klein

Against the Swans, Rozee finished with 27 disposals, four marks, three tackles, a goal, six score involvements and an impressive 825m gained.

With attention on Rozee, before the Swans dropped their James Jordon tag because the Power captain was simply too good, Kane Farrell was also able to cause damage.

The superboot finished with 26 disposals, 11 marks and 809m gained.

All of a sudden what was considered to be a weakness of the Power going into this year, its halfback line, is now a big strength with Miles Bergman and Josh Sinn also providing the ability to damage opposition from there.

“It is a world class halfback attacking back line,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said on Fox Footy.

“You might be able to stop one but you almost certainly can’t stop all of them.”

Rozee did go into the midfield in the second half after Ollie Wines was subbed out of the game following another flare up of his heart issue.

Miles Bergman was impressive again against the Swans. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Esava Ratugolea took a number of big intercept marks. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos

But the Power captain said he was open to continuing in the role in defence, one that he played under Port’s coach in waiting Josh Carr at North Adelaide before getting drafted.

“It is an adjustment definitely, it is very different to playing inside where you are probably doing a lot more bodywork at stoppage but I feel like I have played there in the past under Carry before I was drafted and I can see the game pretty well,” he said.

“So being able to set the boys up at stoppage and away from it, also providing a bit of composure late in games can be a bit of a strength for us long term.

“I think Carry has liked me there for a long time and he and Kenny had a bit of a chat that we have so much talent in the midfield can we try and maybe get someone who has a bit more composure down back to use the ball.

“We obviously lost Dan Houston last year and we are pretty young around the halfback line so I went back there and tried to help the boys out.

“I think it will be a week-to-week thing. In the last quarter I went into the midfield so I think it will be a week-to-week thing and depending on who we are playing.”

For some players, or captains for that matter, being taken out to the midfield into defence could be seen as a bit of a demotion.

Rozee said he would play any role to help the Power win.

“For me playing football is about winning and I would rather have 10 touches and win at half back than have 40 and lose,” he said.

“It was a pretty easy adjustment when Kenny and Carry said it would be best for the team for me to go back there.

“It was a no-brainer, I am happy to play anywhere on the ground if it helps the team.

“I feel like my strengths are being able to take on the game a bit and being able to have a bit of leash and composure down there.

“If I end up playing a bit more down there that is hopefully what I can bring.”

But when it came to the statistics the eight-point win was very much one that we wouldn’t expect from the Power under Hinkley.

Sydney won the inside 50 count 61-53, clearances 46-33 and contested possessions 156-110.

The Power ended up dwarfing the Swans when it came to marks 86-61 and in tackles 57-42.

But what we have usually come to expect of the Power is that when it wins it is dominant at the contest, and gets repeat inside 50s.

Even with a handball-heavy plan when it came to its gamestyle for this season, the Power had just 104 handballs – down from its 2025 average of 176 – compared to the Swans’ 181.

Rozee said it was big for the Power to be able to win in a different way than it usually has.

“It is a positive to be able to play different types of game style and Sydney are a team that really test you offensively and are really strong in outnumbering you at the contest,” he said.

“So we understood that we might have to change our gamestyle to suit the game and they got us done over here in the prelim and we knew that we had to adjust a few things.

“Our pressure was really good out of the blocks and it was really good for a lot of the game so really proud of the effort of the boys.

“I think when you have control of the game and you know how long is left I went a bit plus one so we had an extra behind the ball.

“So trying to find a few more marks and limit the turnover game.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide deep dive: The changes thrusting Power back into contention