Port Adelaide emerges as suitor for out-of-form Cat Steve Motlop

STRUGGLING Geelong playmaker Steve Motlop is out of contract at season’s end and an interstate club is set to make a power play for the silky midfielder.

Could Port Adelaide make a powerplay for Geelong midfielder Steve Motlop? Picture: Sarah Reed

PORT Adelaide great Kane Cornes has backed the Power’s bid for Geelong free agent Steve Motlop, saying Ken Hinkley is a huge fan of the inconsistent star.

The Herald Sun revealed on Friday Port has emerged as a potential suitor to nab the free agent at the end of the season.

He is widely expected to leave Geelong.

Cornes supported Port’s move.

“Yes. Worth a crack... Kenny loves him,” Cornes said on Twitter.

HIRD: WHY THE AFL SHOULD GET DUSTY TO THE SUNS

ROBBO: NICKY DAL ON LIFE AFTER FOOTY, JOEY AND ROOEY

COMPO CLAIM: QC CALLED IN TO BROKER DONS-LOVETT MURRAY DEAL

21ST CENTURY FOOTY: THE BEST QUOTES OF THE PAST 17 YEARS

Port is looking to bolster its midfield stocks in the exchange period as part of a sustained premiership push.

But the Power is yet to make a final decision on Motlop and will continue to assess his form in his comeback from the latest groin issue.

Could Port Adelaide make a powerplay for Geelong midfielder Steve Motlop? Picture: Sarah Reed

Port Adelaide’s list management team led by Jason Cripps has been closely monitoring Motlop all season.

Geelong remains confident the Northern Territory product can play a meaningful role in its upcoming finals series.

However, the Geelong speedster would almost certainly have to take a pay cut to find a new home next season.

Motlop, 26, signed a lucrative deal in the vicinity of $600,000 as part of a career-best season in 2015 but his form has waned over the past two seasons.

If he leaves as a free agent, the most Geelong can hope to receive in compensation is a second-round draft pick.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has ties to Motlop from his days as an assistant at Geelong.

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said last year Motlop should seek a fresh start.

“You feel like he needs a change of scenery to get the best out of his unbelievable ability,” Cornes said.

Geelong great Cameron Ling said Motlop was disappointing in the finals series last year including a 13-possession effort in a losing preliminary final.

“Unfortunately Steve Motlop has let Chris Scott down with the game that he played because that was a big moment,” Ling said.

“That was the type of moment and type of game I think Scott had been saying, ‘I expect Motlop to rise in that moment’ and he didn’t.”

Motlop has averaged only 17 possessions a game as he deals with the groin issues over the past month.

Motlop was left out of the side to take on Carlton at Etihad Stadium tomorrow night because of the groin issue and is in doubt for the following week’s top-of-the-table clash against Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium.

Motlop could return for the Round 21 clash against Richmond at Simonds Stadium, ironically the club which passed on the opportunity to trade for him last season.