David King and Mark Robinson look at Port Adelaide’s premiership credential ahead of 2018 season
PORT Adelaide lacked depth in 2017 and it showed, winning just two of nine games against top 8 teams. An off-season recruiting spree has corrected that flaw, now it’s up to Ken Hinkley and Co.
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KEN Hinkley knows the premiership window is closing as Port Adelaide’s list of ageing stars grows.
The Power’s chances are fading, with Robbie Gray, Paddy Ryder, Justin Westhoff and Travis Boak all aged 29 and over.
The plan Hinkley implemented last season was clear and relatively successful, but Port’s list lacked depth.
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That was exposed against the league’s best teams as Port won only twice in nine attempts against the 2017 finalists during the home-and-away season.
In contrast, Port Adelaide won 12 of its 13 games against the bottom 10 teams with a healthy percentage of 185 per cent, as it beat up on the poorer performers.
Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop, Trent McKenzie and Jack Trengove will not only correct some depth issues but allow Hinkley and his coaching group tremendous flexibility with other star factor talent.
Gray will be able to spend more time forward and won’t have to salvage a failing midfield group as often as he did in 2017, which isn’t dissimilar to what Josh Caddy and Dion Prestia allowed Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin to do at the Tigers.
Port Adelaide had the AFL’s best returns from clearances, averaging 10 points more than their opposition each week.
Ryder’s hitout dominance enabled an aggressive approach and a repeat will allow Rockliff to again be among the league’s elite clearance players, as he was in the first half of last season at the Brisbane Lions.
Hinkley altered Port’s structure last season, which unearthed a forward-half intercepting method that would be the AFL’s best.
The Power won the territory battle, locking the ball inside its forward half of the field, averaging seven minutes more than its opposition.
The difference between the Port Adelaide press and other teams was its ability to get that advantage on to the scoreboard, which is often difficult given the density of players.
Port’s back six defensive unit draws little attention and is almost anonymous to the football public, but it was the third-best defence in the competition last season.
Hamish Hartlett and McKenzie could provide the perfect one-two punch off the half-backline.
Hinkley saved his coaching career last season, and 2018 looms as his best chance yet of becoming a premiership coach.
A 14-16 win season ensures Port Adelaide is a finals lock and possible top-four contender.
ROBBO’S TAKE
WHAT I LIKE
The list management has given Ken Hinkley the list he wanted. In come two mids (Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop) and a forward in Jack Watts to a team that should be kicking itself for losing its final at home to West Coast. The midfield group is Ollie Wines, Sam Powell-Pepper, Travis Boak, Chad Wingard, Robbie Gray, Jared Polec, Rockliff, Motlop and Brad Ebert, and some kids sprinkled in. It looks strong.
The depth means plenty of them will play forward, and Wingard and Gray with Charlie Dixon could be dangerous.
Won 14 games last year, two of them against finalists (Eagles and Sydney), but suspect that percentage will improve this year.
WHAT I DON’T LIKE
Don’t know if it’s a dislike, perhaps more a reality, but Hinkley goes into this season as arguably the coach under the most pressure. They’re all under pressure, but he has rebuilt this team and added some quality. Now Hinkley has to deliver.
There’s a bit of flat-track bullies about Port. It had two blowout defeats in 2017, was competitive in its other games and blew away the poorest opposition.
Wish Watts a helluva season, but not sure a leopard can change its spots.
VERDICT: we’re all watching
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