Why Port Adelaide is every chance to replicate Western Bulldogs’ remarkable 2016 achievement

LAST year, the Bulldogs defied the odds to claim a stunning flag from outside the top four. And there’s no reason why Port Adelaide can’t do the same in 2017.

Charlie Dixon’s Port Adelaide could be a sleeper come the 2017 finals series.

LAST year, the Western Bulldogs defied the odds with a shock yet engrossing four-week run to claim a stunning flag from outside the top four.

And there’s no reason why Port Adelaide can’t do the same in 2017, according to dual premiership Kangaroo David King.

Despite one round remaining in the home and away season, the Power are guaranteed to play finals for the first time since 2014.

The Power will be relying on other results in Round 23 to help them secure a top-four berth, with a St Kilda win over Richmond their best way of earning a double chance.

But even if the Power don’t get that wish, King reckons Ken Hinkley’s men have the potential to win the flag from outside the top four.

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King said, like the Power this year, AFL pundits and fans didn’t give the Bulldogs much hope of winning the flag at the same time last year.

But the Kangaroos champion said there was “no reason why” the Power can’t win the premiership in 2017.

King pointed an array of similarities between Bulldogs players’ roles in 2016 and Power players in 2017.

“Why can’t Robbie Gray do what Liam Picken did last year and light it up for four weeks inside the forward 50?” King asked on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

Charlie Dixon is in All-Australian contention.

“Chad Wingard could do what ‘Bont’ (Marcus Bontempelli) did as a midfielder — he only averaged 25 touches, he wasn’t lighting it up, but he kicked four goals. Wingard could do that.

“They never had a Charlie Dixon, they never had a Paddy Ryder — they never had a target or a full-forward.

“Ollie Wines can do what ‘Libba’ (Tom Liberatore) did. We all think Wines is a very good clearance player.

“‘JJ’ (Jason Johannisen) can be Jared Polec — we like how he creates. And I think Sam Gray and Luke Dahlhaus are very similar — give them a chance with the footy and they’ll make you pay.”

The Power’s form throughout the 2017 season has been a little inconsistent, predominantly due to their struggles against top eight sides.

But King said Ken Hinkley had plenty of weapons at his disposal to wreak havoc in September.

“Maybe we jump off and on too quick ... but there’s no reason why they can’t (win the flag),” King said.

Fellow AFL 360 panellist and triple Blues premiership great Mark Maclure also liked what he saw from Port during its win over the Bulldogs.

Jared Polec provides the Power with great drive from defence.

And once they get a few players back from injury, notably Jasper Pittard and Matthew Broadbent down back, the Power could be a handful in September.

“They’ve got a few weapons and they could be a dangerous side come finals time,” Maclure said.

“Paddy Ryder is a star in the middle of the ground, he feeds them in field ... I really like the running defence.”

Maclure specifically pointed out the form of Dixon, who’s in the mix for a maiden All-Australian jumper after booting a career-high 42 goals from a career-best 21 games.

“I think Charlie Dixon is almost the best big forward in the competition,” Maclure said.

“He plays high, he goes back to the goalsquare — he’s a handful. He’s fit, he looks great — I like the way he goes about it.”

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Originally published as Why Port Adelaide is every chance to replicate Western Bulldogs’ remarkable 2016 achievement