‘Everything we need’: Port Adelaide set to take next step after recruiting spree

New Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee says his side has addressed its key deficiencies from last season to turbocharge the Power’s hunt for a premiership in 2024.

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee says the Power has “everything we need to get us to that next step” after off-season recruiting at Alberton focused on two main areas.

After a straight-sets finals exit in 2023, the Power went big in the AFL trade period, luring key defenders Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and ruckmen Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet to Alberton.

It comes after the retirements of former captain Tom Jonas and ruckman Scott Lycett.

Rozee, who takes on the captaincy and the No. 1 guernsey from Jonas, said at the club’s photo day the additions gave him confidence that the Power could break through after two preliminary final defeats and a semi-final loss in the past four years.

“Yeah, we clearly had a few (positions) at the end of last year that probably needed to be filled and we have brought in a couple of key defenders, which we needed, and a couple of ruckmen with Scotty Lycett hanging up the boots,” Rozee said.

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee getting chased by Francis Evans Picture: Russell Millard Photography

“In terms of our squad, I think we have everything we need to get us to that next step. But the thing about this competition is that you can’t rock up and just expect it to happen. We understand that we have to work and really earn (it).”

The Power has its internal trial on Friday evening at Alberton. While there are games against Adelaide and Fremantle to come, Rozee said Friday’s hitout was an extremely important one for the club.

“It is just a way to try some things that you have been working on in the off-season and to see where you are at,” he said. “The challenge is to get that full 100-per-cent game intensity so we can really learn what works and what doesn’t. We have been trying to drive that around the club; this is an important building block (for the season).”

The internal trial is set to give Power fans a first-look at what Ken Hinkley does with his stacked midfield.

Rozee and vice-captain Zak Butters are coming off all-Australian seasons, Willem Drew is an important member of the midfield brigade, while Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines and young-star Jason Horne-Francis have been among the Power’s most impressive this pre-season.

Port Adelaide vice-captain Zak Butters and captain Connor Rozee have stepped up into new leadership positions this pre-season. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

At times during match-simulation, Rozee and Horne-Francis have swapped between the midfield and forward lines, but the Power skipper said wasn’t expecting drastic changes to his role from 2023.

“We haven’t really had those conversations as of yet, I think it will probably be similar to last year,” he said. “A lot of midfield, with a few hits forward. Our strength is probably that we have a lot of guys who can run through the midfield, so I’m sure it will be a game-to-game basis kind of thing.”

Spearhead Charlie Dixon trained on Monday after dealing with adductor issue in recent weeks, while young key forward Mitch Georgiades is getting closer to resuming full-contact training.

Rozee said he was unsure whether Georgiades, who suffered an ACL injury in April last year, would play in the internal trial.

“He almost did a full session today and he is getting closer to that full contact training,” he said.

“It has been a long time since we have had him so he will be another asset to add to our forward line.”