It’s been two seasons of accolades and high ladder finishes but no cigar for the Power under Ken Hinkley’s tutelage. Emphatic home and away performances, All Australian nominations and now a Brownlow Medal will count for little if Port fail to win yet another preliminary final and miss the big dance. On the SC front they’ve got a couple high ceiling PODs, however it’s the buttery one we’re all here for.
Defenders
Feeling Lucky: Aliir Aliir ($477 000) will always have that low floor as key defender but when Port can force poor entries and set up an extra behind the ball, Aliir’s freed up to intercept and put up some healthy numbers. 87.6 average and 7 tons last season, could be set for a 90+ average season with Port replenishing their key position stocks.
Money Maker: Among those replenished key position stocks is Sam Skinner ($123 900). Skinner was snapped up by Port as a delisted free agent after playing with South Adelaide in the SANFL in 2021 as a noteworthy intercept defender. Given Port’s traditionally undersized backline and issues containing key opposition forwards, even with Aliir and McKenzie, the 196cm bargain would likely be utilized as a lockdown defender rather than an interceptor. In addition to Skinner down back, Port used their first draft pick on Josh Sinn ($157 800, DEF/MID) at pick #12. A deadly left foot and line breaking ability, we can anticipate Sinn to be cast in a dashing half back role after Port’s National Talent Manager Geoff Parker noted “Josh has explosive speed and great agility to change direction and change the way the ball goes forward from defense”.
Midfielders
Lock and Load: Don’t even get me started about how he won a Brownlow but there’s no doubt Ollie Wines ($612 600) had a capital 2021. Averaged 32.4 touches, 6.4 score involvements and 112.5. Throws up a few too many sub-tons and doesn’t hit those 140’s enough for my liking, but he’s right in his prime and will come in as a huge POD. Similarly, Travis Boak ($578 500) will continue to plod along at 105-110 as he’s done for the last 3 years – not a starter but one of those players that could get a price low enough that you can’t say no at M8.
Money Maker: Jackson Mead ($123 900) is one we’ve all been waiting for to get a gig. Port are usually great with blooding young talent but the #25 pick has been hampered by injury and then a COVID impacted season. Big ups on him to break into the midfield rotation this yeaar, keep your eyes on him for Round 1.
Rucks
Money Maker: With issues over who gets the #1 ruck gig over at the Giants, Sam Hayes ($123 900) has reportedly had a strong pre-season, placing him on the coaching staff’s radar and now in contention for that R3 spot. Despite Lycett as the obvious #1 ruck, Port midfield coach Brett Montgomery said of Hayes “He’s done enough, he’s shown enough, he’s passionate enough and puts in the yards that when that opportunity presents we just have to go to him, we have to give him that chance”. Bodes well, especially considering how Port have never shied away from dropping under performing established players for young talent.
Forwards
Lock and Load: Zak Butters ($443 600) looked to on a breakout trajectory last season, opening with scores of 98, 163, 55 (in a pounding v Eagles away) and then a 96 from only one half! Those scores also came from Butters playing as a loose HFF with barely any MID rotations. While he returned late in the season clearly battling and copping more knocks, it was that electric opener and now the promise of development on ball that’s got coaches hyped about the former pick #12. He was already a solid option in that loose HFF role where he covered the ground really well, now if those MID minutes materialize he’s got to be an absolute lock.
Feeling Lucky: I had to come back and add Connor Rozee ($400 200) in as he’s been garnering some interest in the last few days after word of MID rotations and a full pre-season. Per CT’s update in the Coaches Box, Rozee said the other day “I didn’t have any surgeries in the off-season which was a big bonus. The last few years I’ve had a couple of surgeries. It’s been nice to be a part of it for the whole pre-season. I can push for that midfield spot”.
Personally, I’m not sold though. His averages over his first three years have been 77.7, 70.2 and 73.5 (bad trajectory), bouts with injury in his second and third seasons, Dixon and Fantasia are currently in for surgery so you’d expect him to still be primarily up forward and at 400k you’d be backing him to be a keeper which would require him to go 25+ on last season’s average.
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Love your work as always GD, great write up.
For me Butters is on the fringe and if he gets a clean pre season it will be hard not to pick him. The only other players I will really consider are the rookies, Sinn, Hayes, Mead, McEntee and Skinner. At Wines’ price I feel like there’s more upside with other guys (Petracca is 6k cheaper) and Boak as you said isn’t a starter.
Ty, Alza.
Yeah, like that Butters already has a big ceiling. Just needs a strong preseason, like you said.
Another great summary GD.
Sinn sounds like an absolute star in the making, but is the Port DEF line a bit crowded to bank on a rookie at this stage, especially at 157k?
Port DEF players who played 21+ games last year (apparent locks): Aliir, Houston, Burton, DBJ, Jonas.
Port DEF players who played 6-12 games (possible fringe selection): Clurey, Bonner, Lachie Jones, Mart Frederick.
Obviously every year some rookies break in with consistent games and knock off some experienced team mates, but I have a memory of a lot of pre-season hype around Lachie Jones last year and he didn’t get a run until round 4 before unfortunately succumbing to injury. I wonder if we may see a similar early season approach with Sinn.
Thanks, Bozza.
Port traded up to get Sinn, rate him highly.
That could mean that want to give him match exposure immediately and figure out his role OR they could develop him slowly and carefully. Idk at this stage.
Who is on Ports Radar to replace Dixon.?
They just got Finlayson this trade period.