McGuane’s mid-season report card: B- for the Power, but does the ladder lie?

The ladder may not lie, but it’s certainly painting a better picture of the Power than they deserve right now, writes MICK MCGUANE. Mick grades Port Adelaide’s season so far.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 30: Zak Butters of the Power after their loss during the 2024 AFL Round 12 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Carlton Blues at Adelaide Oval on May 30, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Port Adelaide might be in the top four right now, but are they truly in the premiership hunt?

Mick McGuane gives his grade for the Power’s first half of the 2024 season.

MICK’S MID-SEASON REPORT RATING: B –

Ross Lyon said last year that “the ladder doesn’t lie”.

That may be the case, but midway through the season it paints a rosier picture of Port Adelaide than the Power perhaps deserve.

Ken Hinkley’s side sits fourth with an 8-4 record at the bye, but there are some serious holes in the boat as it sails towards the second half of the season.

Port Adelaide has been too inconsistent — both week-to-week and within games — and is not defending the ground like a top-four side.

This team has long been renowned as being strong in the contest, generating territory which allows their defence to come in behind their and squeeze the ground to see the ball live in Port’s forward half.

That’s not happening at the moment.

Is the ladder lying about the Power’s place in the AFL hierarchy? (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The defensive structure is regularly breaking down across the ground, which is leading to high numbers of one-on-one contests in the defensive 50 which the Power are struggling to handle.

Since round 6, they rank 14th for points against from turnovers, which can in part be attributed to ranking 13th for one-on-one contest loss percentage.

Overall this season, Port sits 11th for opposition scores per inside-50 and ninth for total points against.

Down back, the likes of Esava Ratugolea, Aliir Aliir and Dan Houston must markedly improve with their defensive traits.

I’d also be moving Miles Bergman back into defence — where he brings some intercepting prowess — rather than having him line up on a wing as he has done this year.

However, the much-lauded midfield also needs to take some responsibility for this poor defensive profile.

They are not getting after the loose ball as well as they should, ranking 17th for post-clearance contested possession differential.

You can also question whether they are as good a two-way runners as other sides.

We witnessed Jason Horne-Francis not showing Carlton captain Patrick Cripps enough respect last week.

Cripps pushed forward and kicked two final-quarter goals to help lead the Blues to victory.

DIXON DILEMMA

Charlie Dixon has always been one of Hinkley’s favourites — and with good reason.

But against Carlton last week, the key forward looked like an old man in a queue waiting for his pensioner’s cheque.

He managed just one disposal before being subbed out of the game and there are major question marks now on whether he can return to influence games at almost 34 years old.

Port have to ask themselves whether Dixon is helping or hindering their young key forwards in Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades.

Given form he is currently in, Hinkley can’t keep gifting Dixon games.

Dixon is battling. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

LOCK IN SEPTEMBER, BUT ….

Despite all their current issues, the Power look finals-bound for a fourth time in five years.

According to Champion Data, they have the sixth-easiest run home, which should see them hold on to their top-four spot.

That said, this team is not a legitimate premiership threat in my eyes at the moment.

I still question whether this group is mentally tough enough to get the job done against the competition’s best sides, with the loss to Carlton at home last week raising some further red flags.

Originally published as McGuane’s mid-season report card: B- for the Power, but does the ladder lie?