It’s been a strong start to the season for Port Adelaide, which has won three of its five games this seasons.
Coming off a tenth-placed finish in 2018, the Power have been boosted with some new faces this season.
Connor Rozee (pick 5), Zak Butters (pick 12) and Xavier Duursma (pick 18) all debuted in Round 1 against Melbourne, and are yet to miss a game this season.
Rozee has been the pick of the bunch to date, kicking 8 goals in 5 outings this season, while averaging just shy of 17 disposals per game as a defender/forward.
The 19-year-old’s Round 3 performance against the Brisbane Lions was a highlight, collecting 21 disposals and kicking 5 goals, enough to earn him a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.
Butters and Duursma have also been handy contributors, averaging 17 disposals each, and using their explosiveness, creativity and high footy IQ to impact the game on a regular basis.
Willem Drew, who was drafted with pick 33 in the 2016 draft, has also come of age in his debut AFL season, complementing his Power teammates.
The 190-centimetre midfielder/forward has seemingly overcome the horror stretch of injuries which plagued him in the early parts of his career.
The Power have also been aided by the additions of experienced AFL players Ryan Burton and Scott Lycett, who made moves from Hawthorn and West Coast late last year.
Burton has been a consistent performer for Port Adelaide in defence, playing an important role on the opposition’s dangerous medium-sized forwards, while being able to the win the ball himself, averaging a career-high 22.6 disposals.
Lycett made the shock move to Port after winning a premiership with the Eagles, and has continued the rich vein of form he showed he was capable of in September last year.
The big man has formed a formidable partnership with the experienced Paddy Ryder, averaging a personal-best 23.6 hit-outs per game and 16.2 disposals.
As a side, Port Adelaide is well-drilled and extremely disciplined, which is why it has toppled quality sides such as West Coast this season.
The Power play a high-possession style of game, ranking third in kicks and handballs per game, and first in average disposals.
Renowned for its fast-paced frenetic style of play, Port Adelaide is capable of moving the ball from end-to-end in a flash if its opponents have a lapse in concentration.
This energetic game plan has seen it rank third in total points per game, ahead of sides such as GWS and Brisbane.
