Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee on why Power succession plan will break trend

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee is confident one of the Power’s strengths will help transitioning coaches Ken Hinkley and Josh Carr.

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee believes the Power’s culture will iron out any transitioning issues between coaches Ken Hinkley and Josh Carr.

Hinkley and Carr were recently unveiled as the AFL’s newest coaching succession plan, with assistant Carr set to take the top job from Hinkley at season’s end.

While succession plans have been fraught with danger in the past, Rozee is confident the Power’s will be different.

Rozee thinks the same culture that has deterred homesickness among interstate players will be in action against any teething issues during the year.

“I think our club does a really good job at breeding good people within,” he said.

“Carry is no exception to that. He obviously played at Port Adelaide and has coached for a few years now.

“We breed good people and that’s what makes our footy club really good. Our culture teaches people what works and what doesn’t.”

Port Adelaide’s culture will make for a smooth succession plan, says Connor Rozee. Picture: y Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Rozee, the second-youngest captain in the AFL behind only Gold Coast skipper Noah Anderson, says there is a significant difference between Carr and Hinkley.

To Rozee, there’s an element of the old and the new in his current and future coaches’ styles.

“They’re very different, there’s obviously a big age gap,” he said.

“Kenny is pretty full on and is a great motivator, makes sure everyone is 100 per cent ready to go on the day and is an amazing coach and mentor.

“To a lot of people, he’s (Hinkley) a father figure almost.

“Carry is in that younger generation and understands that little bit more, a little bit calmer in his general character.

“They both have their strengths and I can’t wait to play this year under Kenny and then see what the future holds.”

Rozee has already played in three preliminary finals (2020, 2021 and 2024) but has never played in a grand final.

He says the Power’s contest has let them down in the big games but hopes with another year under the belt of a growing midfield they can improve their prelim record.

“We’ve been getting into a prelim final, so we’re not too far from it,” he said.

Rozee (right) says Ken Hinkley has been a father figure to a lot of younger players. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I feel like we play a brand of footy which holds up, I mean you’re playing a top three side in the competition when you get to that stage so it’s never easy.

“We probably dropped off with our contested ball and we normally see that as one of our strengths. It’s probably let us down a bit in finals.

“As our group gets a bit older, our midfielders are moving into their mid-20s now, we’ve played a lot of finals and know what it takes.

“Hopefully, we can take the next step.”