Port Adelaide ruck pairing Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet could play in the same team again

Despite the pairing of Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet failing to work against Collingwood, Power assistant coach Chad Cornes says the combo could return.

Jordon Sweet. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Port Adelaide assistant Chad Cornes says a dual-ruck plan isn’t off the table for the Power despite the first crack of pairing Ivan Soldo with Jordon Sweet failing to work against Collingwood.

With Charlie Dixon managed the Power gave Sweet his club debut and paired him with Soldo, who has had an impressive start to his Port Adelaide career as the solo-ruck.

But neither of the big men were able to influence the game as the Power copped a hiding from the Pies on Saturday.

Soldo ended up with no kicks, eight handballs, one mark and 19 hitouts, while Sweet had five disposals, three marks, six tackles and 21 hitouts.

Cornes said the two didn’t have “great output” on Saturday, but it didn’t mean the Power would shelve the two-ruck idea for this season.

“They both had moments in the ruck but not a big impact when they went forward,” he said.

“We might look at that again, because it didn’t work this week it doesn’t mean it won’t work again.”

The Power were handed a reality check by the reigning premiers at the MCG, despite the Magpies yet to fully fire in 2024.

Ivan Soldo’s impact against Collingwood was down on what he has produced so far in 2024. Picture: Getty Images

Port Adelaide came out firing in the first quarter, racing away to a 31-point lead but fell away from there onwards as the Pies turned it around and came out 42-point winners.

It means that the Power have lost both its games against teams that finished in the top eight last year so far in 2024, while winning all matches against sides who did not make finals in 2023.

When asked if it was alarming and if it was just where the Power were at, Cornes said Port had to learn from it.

“It has happened against the top teams,” he said.

“Even though Collingwood haven’t had a great start to the year I think they are finding their form and will be at the top towards the end of the year.

“So it is something we need to address and get better at against the top teams.”

One of the key areas will be the Power’s groundball game.

From Rounds 4 to 6 this year, it is -70.

This is the worst three game stretch since it went -77 from Rounds 21-23 in 2019, with only its run of -73 in 2011 worse since 1999.

“The groundball game, the loose ball gets has been an issue during the year,” Cornes said.

“And it has been an issue in the past, especially against the better teams.

“So we will look to do some things structurally that we think can help us.”

In some good news for the Power, young defender Lachie Jones’ scan on his hamstring showed positive news and he could be in the mix to take on St Kilda on Friday.

Young star Jason Horne-Francis will be fine for the clash with his scare against the Pies just cramp, as will be Miles Bergman after rolling an ankle.

Originally published as Port Adelaide ruck pairing Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet could play in the same team again