2010 AFL Season Preview - Port Adelaide

By Allblack
Port is a hard team for me to review. Mostly because no team in the AFL holds less interest for me and secondly because their form doesn’t match their supposed talent. Last year would have been a nightmare for those at Alberton and they will be expecting a lot more improvement this year.

Their backline is attacking but give up a lot of points. Only the bottom three teams gave up more last year and they only gave up 7 goals less than Melbourne over the season. That is a pretty big gap to improve on. They went reasonably tall in the draft recognising their deficiency but we all know big men take time. Schulz was pulled in as a quick fix and I think he will play more back. Chaplin has come a long way and still has improvement left. I am not sure how much run Chad Cornes has left but he is important back there. They will be hoping Trengrove will show more this year on the field rather than off it. Nash will be an interesting acquisition this year. You would suspect he has been recruited to be a playmaker from the half back line, he certainly hasn’t shown signs previously of being able to play defensively. I would expect further improvement from Surjan this year as well. Carlisle still has improvement left

Their midfield should have been a strength last year but they lost their best player to Hawthorn in Burgoyne. Kane Cornes didn’t seem anywhere near as effective last year. Cassissi is consistent but not what I would consider a match winner. They recruited a gun last year in Hartlett who will improve massively this year. Boak is primed for some serious improvement as well as Salopek who after a slow start is finding his feet. Pearce and Krakeour need to work on consistency or will be spending less time in the middle and more at the opposite ends of the ground although with no Burgoynes this year it really is time for them to step up.

Their forward line has promise but with Tredrea having to go around again we know the depth isn’t there. Justin Westhoff had a bit of the second year blues last year but looks a quality prospect. Daniel Motlop is a freak but those pictures of him during the preseason looking very out of shape must be a concern. I know he has been injured but in this day and age turning out like that is unacceptable. Rodan will kick his 20 odd goals but he seems to be finding it harder as well. Gray did well last year as a smaller forward but think he may start to move towards the midfield this year. Will be curious to see if Butcher gets a run this year, I think he might and might also go ok.

Their ruck stocks have plummeted. No more Lade leaves Brogan to carry a very big load. You know when you have to take Cameron Cloke as a mature age back up that you are thin in the big man stakes. If for any reason Brogan can’t play they are in big trouble. They have some young rucks coming through but I wouldn’t want to expose them just yet.

Mark Williams is a very good coach. At least he is capable of being a very good coach. Things went off the rails last year and it is pretty each to question his commitment to the job from everything we saw and heard. He lost some of the senior players and the results show a team who didn’t perform to their potential.

I think Port are capable of being a top eight team but whether they can find that sort of form or not is a pretty big question mark. I have them around the 10 mark again. I have trouble seeing enough improvement in them to push into the eight at this stage unless there is a lot more commitment.

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Posted 22 January 10 in Important Articles