The Soaring

Check out Part 1 is Here.

So how did Port Adelaide rebound so well?

After a poor 2006 Port surprised everyone with a trip to the 2007 Grand Final. Most consider they over achieved but the truth is they have proven they have been able to arrest their bottoming out very quickly and sides like ours should take note of how they did it.

The reaction was swift from Mark Williams and his staff. Once the dismantling began it was done thoroughly and quickly. The plan became to rebuild around a new nucleus of their existing players and add quality both through the draft and as Mark Williams has done as successfully as anyone, through recycled players.

The new core of the team was centred around the talents of Shaun and Peter Burgoyne and Chad and Kane Cornes as the true topliners. All had been in the Port system for some time, all a versatile players and together were able to step up and carry the team. No one player can ever carry a team in my opinion, but a group of players can - each making up for each others ups and downs.

Aiding them were stalwarts in the ruck - Lade and Brogan, Tredrea up front and Wakelin down back. Surrounding them were an exciting bunch of young kids.

Traditionally Port had been one of the older teams in the competition. However that changed with 8 selections in 2006 draft. In previous years good selections had netted them the likes of Chaplin, Salopek, Boak & Ebert and they along with others such as Motlop and Rodan came into the side and added a new look to the team.

The key thing here is that Port built on what they had and injected plenty of quality youth to make them fresher, quicker and hungrier.

One the things the Eagles have going for us is already we are a young list. This year we’re seeing the likes of McKinley, Schofield, Ebert, Masten, McNamara, Selwood, Spangher get their run for us to see if they have what it takes. On top of them the likes of Brown, McKenzie, Thomson, Houlihan, Notte and the like will get their opportunities as well. Add to that another healthy crop of good selections in this years draft and the young list will become even younger.

What we also have is an existing core we can build upon. Yes we know who’s left, but we let’s look at who’s still around. Kerr and Cox are clearly the stand-outs and once they get right with their fitness and discipline we will be well placed. However, they alone can’t do it.

Add to the midfield a fit Priddis, a maturing Masten and Ebert, plus the bigger bodies of A. Selwood & Stenglein, the returning Butler and even say a top line draftee eg Daniel Rich and things are looking strong again. Kerr, Priddis, Masten, Rich. Give that a year or two and we will be looking the goods.

Players with their best footy in front of them include the likes of Kennedy, McKinley, LeCras in the forward 50, Hurn, Waters, Brown in the backline. Add to them quality players who can play a role for us for a number of years yet (assuming all goes well) in Hunter, Embley, Glass, Brett Jones and others.

We clearly have the potential in our list - we are young and have massive improvement with in. The key will be whether the team can re-constitute a new nucleus who will carry the side through the current tough spell. The Burgoynes and Cornes did it for Port - we need to see who will put their hand up for the Eagles to say we can do it.

We by no means have the perfect list nor necessarily the names of the past - but we do have some untapped quality - in both ability and in character - and when we find that we will be away.