Track watch: All the latest pre-season news from Port Adelaide

Ollie Wines’ role in 2023 was one to watch, but could the latest intel from pre-season see a change in the starting midfield? Plus, the young gun ready to rise and fill Xavier Duursma’s shoes.

Could Port Adelaide’s new No. 7 be replacing its old one on the wing?

The Power has at least one spot open up on its wings after Xavier Duursma moved to Essendon, and a number of players couldn’t make the spot their own in 2023.

But as pre-season training continued at Alberton, the Power gave some indications of what we might be seeing from Ken Hinkley’s side in 2024.

This is what stood out from Port Adelaide training on Friday.

BURGOYNE BOLTING?

Jase Burgoyne jumped at the chance to take the No. 7 guernsey – one of the most significant in Port Adelaide’s history with the club’s greatest ever player Russell Ebert – in the off-season after Duursma’s move to the Bombers.

Burgoyne – who will follow in dad Peter’s footsteps by wearing the No. 7 – could also be in line to take Duursma’s position.

After 13 games in two years he was challenged to add 5kg to his slight frame in the off-season and it looks to have impressed Power coaches.

Burgoyne is one the Power will hope takes a leap in 2024. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

When the group broke into teams for match simulation, Burgoyne was in the stronger black team and was on the wing – impressing with his gut running.

On the other wing for the black team was Travis Boak, who was used in the position last year but will be looking for an improved year after deciding to play on for another season.

MIDFIELD MIX

Another player used on the wing last year was Ollie Wines.

But it is well and truly clear that the 2021 Brownlow Medallist’s best position is as an inside bull of a midfielder and that was where Wines was on Friday.

The black side’s midfield featured Wines, new captain Connor Rozee, vice-captain Zak Butters and young gun Jason Horne-Francis.

New recruit from the Western Bulldogs Jordon Sweet was the ruck for the stronger side, although Ivan Soldo is still recovering from finger surgery.

Interestingly Willem Drew was on the white side, a bit of a surprise given he has been ever -present for the Power in recent years.

Wines played different roles in 2023. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

FLICKING FORWARD

Very quickly a trend became apparent among the black side.

Horne-Francis would start as a deep forward, manned by Lachie Jones, and then would swap with Rozee when he went in the middle.

If the Power are to bring Wines back into his best position then someone does have to be used in a different position.

Horne-Francis has been likened to Patrick Dangerfield for much of his career, could be become a damaging player forward of centre like the Geelong superstar as well?

Horne-Francis’ move could open up a midfield slot for Wines. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

OTHER HINTS

There was some talk that the Power might have to move Kane Farrell or even Miles Bergman further up the ground because of their lack of wing depth but both were in defence for the black side.

With new recruits Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher with Aliir Aliir in the black side, Ryan Burton was interestingly on the white side during match sim – as was Dylan Williams.

The Power are hoping for a big year from 2021 first round draft pick Josh Sinn and he was playing in defence for the white side.

Todd Marshall was doing plenty of running on the sideline as he recovers from hip surgery, while Mitch Georgiades continues to impress with his movement as he targets a Round 1 return following his ACL injury last year.

Originally published as Track watch: All the latest pre-season news from Port Adelaide