POWER QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSSION FOR PRESEASON 2024
WHERE WILL OUR IMPROVEMENTS COME FROM?
The most important positive memory of 2023 to remember is that we finished 3rd and was a touch unlucky not to finish higher even top of the ladder and we still have quite a lot of room for improvement within our team.
When it comes to player improvement, you never really know who has natural talent that will be given more opportunity or who has changed their routine or begun to really dedicate themselves to being the best AFL player they can be. Who would have guessed that Dylan Williams would have the year he had last year?
I think there are a number of significant areas in the playing list and the 23 that can be vastly improved from last year.
WHICH 2ND, 3RD OR 4TH YEAR PLAYERS WILL TAKE THE LEAP?
We have the two obvious candidates in Horne-Francis and Bergman. Both 'twins' could elevate their games to become stars of the game this year
Horne-Francis will hopefully have a full preseason under his belt and attack the game from the first bounce of the season. We are all waiting for the Sex Panther to start dominating games but we have to be patient but you know, the sooner the better.
Bergman looks and plays like a thoroughbred and he will be itching to apply his trade to the wing position and impact with his all round game. He had a stellar season down back last year but really needs more time on or around the ball to see what he is really capable of. I see him in the midfield sometime in the future.
Can Lachie Jones bring his game up? Starting the season off slowly playing more on the wing and getting dropped and then finding a position down back, Lachie began to get settled and played every game from Round 17 onwards. Still has a lot of untapped potential to unleash.
Will Jase Burgyone embrace the number 7 jumper made famous in the AFL by his father? Will he get the wing or will he be playing SANFL? I hope he gets the chance but others might claim the spot rightfully there's in the preseason.
Can Josh Sinn get a run of games and form? Still having problems with his hammy, can we get this young gun a few games on the run as the clock has started to tick away. Josh would bring a real different dimension to the team if he makes it.
HOW WILL OLDER PLAYERS BE USED?
I've nominated the older players as Travis Boak, Charlie Dixon, Trent McKenzie and Tom Clurey. So the arbitrary cutoff is at Aliir. The question is will these guys get games, will they be in the first 22 and will they stop another younger player from playing and developing.
Hinkley is no stranger to poor decision making and we saw the disaster of the triage unit that was our bench in the Semi-Final against the Giants with old, injured players watching the Giants hold on to victory.
You would assume that Clurey will struggle to get a game but maybe a year off will be good for him.
McKenzie to be first cab off the rank if a KPD is injured unless Bergman goes back.
Dixon is the interesting one. Does he have one last good season left in him?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH MCENTEE AND BYRNE-JONES?
Marshall is our best tall. We need another tall and there are a lot hanging around. Rioli and Powell-Pepper played well during the year and hold their spots.
What do we do with McEntee and Byrne-Jones?
Although seemingly loved by the coaching staff, surely they see the limitations of McEntee's game. This is really a position of upgrade where we could theoretically gain 10 to 30 goals with a really talented small forward. McEntee could come from the clouds and have an amazing preseason but doesn't quite have the talent base of some of young rookies of Anastasopoulos and Charleson have.
Byrne-Jones played like a square peg in a round hole but as a professional did the most of what he had while moved from the backline to the forward line. Not a natural forward by any means, he was a middling good player for the team but do we have a player more suited to the role to be able to step up and apply more scoreboard pressure.
It will be interesting to see how the forward line develops and if some of the young guys can fulfil a role in the forward line because it is a position that rookies can fill.
HOW WILL THE TALL BACKS WORK TOGETHER?
During the Melbourne Demons run of winning the Premiership, they didn't have great defenders and they picked up Steven May and Jake Lever in successive years. While not as highly touted as the Demonic Duo down in defence, Esava Ratugolea and homeboy Brandon Zerk-Thatcher can provide the same stability and poise for our backline. With Aliir holding up the fort since he came over from Sydney, the new KPDs have size, strength, speed, marking ability, intercepting ability and versatility. We have not had this since forever. You would think Esava would get the last line of defence position. Aliir on the 2nd tall. Zerk-Thatcher playing the 3rdt all, run off. But I can see a world in which this chops and changes a bit.
We could really have some serious improvement here which would also help correct the spine.
WHO ARE OUR WINGMEN AND CAN WE GET SOME DRIVE FROM THEM AND HOW WILL THEY AFFECT THE MIDFIELD?
Having lost two prime wingmen in successive off seasons, the wing position seems to be up for grabs and anyone ready to run a couple of marathons a game and kick a ball should be ready to go.
Last year, young Bergman was meant to play on the wing but got the call to play the 3rd and on occasion, the 1st tall and excelled pretty much excelled with whatever makeshift job he was tasked with.
In 2024, Bergman is primed to start back onto the wing and break the game open when he gets the chance. A great mark, a strong runner, a penetrating kick and with a good feel for the game, Bergman could be devastating on the wing which we haven't had for a while.
On the other wing, who knows? When Jase played games back in 2022, he seemed to look like a wingmen to me so it is no surprise to see him possibly line up here. The big question is does he have the running capacity to play the wing? He definitely has the one on one talent and he is speedy and intelligent so I really hope he gets a chance and nails it.
Other options include Kane Farrell, Lachie Jones, Ryan Burton and Quinton Narkle.
And will this injection of talent at the wing position allow us the midfield to find more play on the outside and also to find the extra man in the F50 with some gut running. We haven't had this since Karl Amon.
And will the increase talent at wing help with clearances around the ground.
This is definitely primed for a real improvement for 2024.
HOW WILL OUR NEW RUCKS GO AND HOW WILL THEY AFFECT THE MIDFIELD?
If you want to know how our rucks were in 2023, all you need to know is that three of our four rucks were delisted in the off season with the ruck who survived was a 3 game 'veteran'.
We probably had the worse rucks in the league last year so Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet will be a vast improvement on what we were dishing up in 2023. With our young midfield rarely getting a centre bounce advantage last year, I am hoping that Soldo or Sweet can put a put a few on a platter as even a small advantage to the Three Amigos will spell disaster to the opposition defenders but a Happy Meal on the platter will means domination.
Also, will we play Soldo and Sweet together like we did with Lycett and Ladhams?
This is probably the most serious improvement our side can have in 2024.
While the KPDs was a real struggle for 2023, the ruck situation was probably even quietly worse.
WHAT WILL OUR MEDIUM DEFENDERS LOOK LIKE?
While not set in stone, we usually play three tall forwards and we now have them in Ratugolea, Aliir and Zerk-Thatcher.
We have high quality players for medium defenders in Dan Houston, Ryan Burton, Kane Farrell, Dylan Williams, Lachie Jones and Josh Sinn.
With one of the better problems for our coaches to ponder, we have six very good candidates to go into three positions with maybe one or two landing on the bench.
I don't think Dan Houston will be moved from the seagull quarterback defender as he was brilliant at it last year. Once Naicos went into the midfield, Houston was up against Jack Sinclair for aces at that position. All 3 made the AA side. He is a special piece of defence down there.
We have a big name in Ryan Burton who struggled for form but was shunted around the paddock for most of the year.. He was dropped twice but came back and delivers a second seagull attacker from defence if needed. When Burton's kicking boot is on, he is as good as anyone in F50 attacks although a bit underwhelming as a defender.
Kane had a bit of a breakout season last year but still has room to improve. Does he play down in defence or does he play on the wing?
The pleasant surprise of the season went to Dylan Williams who just about everyone was calling to be delisted but found a home in defence. Hopefully he gets unrookied and back on the main list. He has a great kick which can find a needle in a haystack but also happens to be a very good one on one defender especially in the marking contest that a few other medium defenders lack.
Can Lachie Jones improve his game and become a regular in the 22 and begin to excel and shut down in his role. Unlike the four defenders above, Lachie Jones brings a different look down back with athleticism and power to his game.
And lastly, Josh Sinn, a highly touted and highly drafted speedster out of the Sandy Dragons is looking to get some games in the side. He has a point of difference with the medium defenders as he is lightning quick, athletic and will break lines. I hope he gets a run of games because I think he just needs a bit of confidence to start flashing that potential that had him originally as a number 1 overall pick early in his draft year. When it comes down to it, we really have to see what we've got with him.
HOW WILL OUR TALL FORWARDS SHAKE OUT?
Without a truly dominant number one tall forward, we rely on many KPF sharing the load in the forward line. Every tall forward for the Power has a question mark.
While Todd Marshall will be first called but he has concussion protocol issues that seemed to wane as the year went on but most definitely has to be monitored for his career but also for his own well-being. Everyone is pulling for Todd.
Underappreciated by the Power fans, Dixon is old and injured and seems to like to put his foot in his mouth whenever a microphone is nearby.
Explosive Mitchell Georgiades is returning from a major injury but could have the most athleticism and talent out of our forwards and gives us a different look.
Finlayson is a do it all whose form starting hot and slowed down as the year wore on.
And young firebrand Ollie Lord who showed the Power fans a glimpse of possibilities with 4 goals in a QF against the Lions and Harris Andrews.
Do we play 2 or 3 tall forwards? Does the versatility of Finlayson give him the edge as the 3rd KPF? How will the knee hold up for Mitch? Does Charlie have one last hurrah or is he going to the big mechanics shop in the sky? Does Ollie smell blood on the water and demands the FF role?
Lots of questions that will be answered in March and some serious roads for improvement.
WINES CAN ONLY PLAY ONE SPOT, DOES HE PLAY IT?
2021 seems like a long time ago for Ollie. If we could get Wines up to Brownlow Medal form, the midfield would become irresistible. Even 80% would be devastating for the rest of the comp. Wines digging in there shovelling the ball out to the Three Amigos would be awesome.
His recent form is murky and the jury is still out if it based on injuries, wear and tear or a lack of a preseason. We should know soon enough.
Without the threat of captaincy, it allows Wines to be a bit selfish but in a good way and focus in on his game of being an inside, hard running midfielder who makes contest after contest.
The question is if he is good to go and we have other midfielders who are above him on the pecking order, does he gets 50% of centre bounce attendances like last year which was on a downhill trend towards the end of the season. And where is he playing when not in the centre.
WHICH YOUNG GUYS WITH LITTLE TO NO AFL GAMES WILL GET A SNIFF?
The one candidate that intrigues is Hugh Jackson who could bring a real difference to the end of the rotation of the midfield.
Will Jase Burgoyne get the wing job?
Jackson Mead will be doing his best to push for play time in the middle.
Can the two goal-sneak rookies impress in the preseason or kick some early goals in the SANFL and apply some pressure to the spots of McEntee and Byrne-Jones?
Can the tall timber of Tom McCallum, Tom Scully and Kyle Marshall of the 2022 draft show some real development and begin to put some pressure on spots?
CAN WE WIN AGAINST TEAMS WHOSE GAME IS CONTESTED BALL?
This is more to do with coaching than anything.
Last year we struggled against any team that played strong contested ball. We lost both times against Collingwood and Adelaide, late Carlton and both Finals against Brisbane and GWS.
The most damning loses were the Showdowns were the eventual 11th best team of the comp decimated us both times IIRC before half time with strong, contested ball winning.
The coaching staff really needs to address this issue if we want to go deep in finals.
CAN OUR STAR MIDFIELD REST IN THE FORWARD LINE?
Our three stars, the Three Amigos, are natural forward players who could rest in the forward line. Do we do that or leave them on the bench?
WILL WE TRY OTHER PLAYERS IN THE MIDFIELD AND CENTRE BOUNCE ATTENDANCE?
The Three Amigos will get plenty of time.
Drew will get his time in the centre.
How much time does Wines get?
Will Boak trend down for time in the middle and pretty much stay out of the centre?
Does either of Hugh Jackson, Sam Powell-Pepper, Miles Bergman, Jackson Mead or someone one else get to apply their trade in the centre and give us other looks in the back of the rotation of our midfield?
HOW WILL THE LEADERSHIP GROUP MAKE AN IMPACT?
With Rozee becoming captain and his friend Zak Butters being vice-captain and Sam Powell-Pepper, Dan Houston and Willem Drew in the leadership group, how does this changing of the leadership guard effect the playing group?
Can we expect a more steely resolve from Rozee and Butters? Is Rozee going to play good cop and Butters bad cop?
CONCLUSION
So I think that within the playing group considering we finished 3rd last year there is a big possibility for a huge improvement from the team in many areas of our game.
Of course, the coaching is a huge problem but we are primed for another step forward or two or ten for next year.
Go the Power!!!!!
WHERE WILL OUR IMPROVEMENTS COME FROM?
The most important positive memory of 2023 to remember is that we finished 3rd and was a touch unlucky not to finish higher even top of the ladder and we still have quite a lot of room for improvement within our team.
When it comes to player improvement, you never really know who has natural talent that will be given more opportunity or who has changed their routine or begun to really dedicate themselves to being the best AFL player they can be. Who would have guessed that Dylan Williams would have the year he had last year?
I think there are a number of significant areas in the playing list and the 23 that can be vastly improved from last year.
WHICH 2ND, 3RD OR 4TH YEAR PLAYERS WILL TAKE THE LEAP?
We have the two obvious candidates in Horne-Francis and Bergman. Both 'twins' could elevate their games to become stars of the game this year
Horne-Francis will hopefully have a full preseason under his belt and attack the game from the first bounce of the season. We are all waiting for the Sex Panther to start dominating games but we have to be patient but you know, the sooner the better.
Bergman looks and plays like a thoroughbred and he will be itching to apply his trade to the wing position and impact with his all round game. He had a stellar season down back last year but really needs more time on or around the ball to see what he is really capable of. I see him in the midfield sometime in the future.
Can Lachie Jones bring his game up? Starting the season off slowly playing more on the wing and getting dropped and then finding a position down back, Lachie began to get settled and played every game from Round 17 onwards. Still has a lot of untapped potential to unleash.
Will Jase Burgyone embrace the number 7 jumper made famous in the AFL by his father? Will he get the wing or will he be playing SANFL? I hope he gets the chance but others might claim the spot rightfully there's in the preseason.
Can Josh Sinn get a run of games and form? Still having problems with his hammy, can we get this young gun a few games on the run as the clock has started to tick away. Josh would bring a real different dimension to the team if he makes it.
HOW WILL OLDER PLAYERS BE USED?
I've nominated the older players as Travis Boak, Charlie Dixon, Trent McKenzie and Tom Clurey. So the arbitrary cutoff is at Aliir. The question is will these guys get games, will they be in the first 22 and will they stop another younger player from playing and developing.
Hinkley is no stranger to poor decision making and we saw the disaster of the triage unit that was our bench in the Semi-Final against the Giants with old, injured players watching the Giants hold on to victory.
You would assume that Clurey will struggle to get a game but maybe a year off will be good for him.
McKenzie to be first cab off the rank if a KPD is injured unless Bergman goes back.
Dixon is the interesting one. Does he have one last good season left in him?
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH MCENTEE AND BYRNE-JONES?
Marshall is our best tall. We need another tall and there are a lot hanging around. Rioli and Powell-Pepper played well during the year and hold their spots.
What do we do with McEntee and Byrne-Jones?
Although seemingly loved by the coaching staff, surely they see the limitations of McEntee's game. This is really a position of upgrade where we could theoretically gain 10 to 30 goals with a really talented small forward. McEntee could come from the clouds and have an amazing preseason but doesn't quite have the talent base of some of young rookies of Anastasopoulos and Charleson have.
Byrne-Jones played like a square peg in a round hole but as a professional did the most of what he had while moved from the backline to the forward line. Not a natural forward by any means, he was a middling good player for the team but do we have a player more suited to the role to be able to step up and apply more scoreboard pressure.
It will be interesting to see how the forward line develops and if some of the young guys can fulfil a role in the forward line because it is a position that rookies can fill.
HOW WILL THE TALL BACKS WORK TOGETHER?
During the Melbourne Demons run of winning the Premiership, they didn't have great defenders and they picked up Steven May and Jake Lever in successive years. While not as highly touted as the Demonic Duo down in defence, Esava Ratugolea and homeboy Brandon Zerk-Thatcher can provide the same stability and poise for our backline. With Aliir holding up the fort since he came over from Sydney, the new KPDs have size, strength, speed, marking ability, intercepting ability and versatility. We have not had this since forever. You would think Esava would get the last line of defence position. Aliir on the 2nd tall. Zerk-Thatcher playing the 3rdt all, run off. But I can see a world in which this chops and changes a bit.
We could really have some serious improvement here which would also help correct the spine.
WHO ARE OUR WINGMEN AND CAN WE GET SOME DRIVE FROM THEM AND HOW WILL THEY AFFECT THE MIDFIELD?
Having lost two prime wingmen in successive off seasons, the wing position seems to be up for grabs and anyone ready to run a couple of marathons a game and kick a ball should be ready to go.
Last year, young Bergman was meant to play on the wing but got the call to play the 3rd and on occasion, the 1st tall and excelled pretty much excelled with whatever makeshift job he was tasked with.
In 2024, Bergman is primed to start back onto the wing and break the game open when he gets the chance. A great mark, a strong runner, a penetrating kick and with a good feel for the game, Bergman could be devastating on the wing which we haven't had for a while.
On the other wing, who knows? When Jase played games back in 2022, he seemed to look like a wingmen to me so it is no surprise to see him possibly line up here. The big question is does he have the running capacity to play the wing? He definitely has the one on one talent and he is speedy and intelligent so I really hope he gets a chance and nails it.
Other options include Kane Farrell, Lachie Jones, Ryan Burton and Quinton Narkle.
And will this injection of talent at the wing position allow us the midfield to find more play on the outside and also to find the extra man in the F50 with some gut running. We haven't had this since Karl Amon.
And will the increase talent at wing help with clearances around the ground.
This is definitely primed for a real improvement for 2024.
HOW WILL OUR NEW RUCKS GO AND HOW WILL THEY AFFECT THE MIDFIELD?
If you want to know how our rucks were in 2023, all you need to know is that three of our four rucks were delisted in the off season with the ruck who survived was a 3 game 'veteran'.
We probably had the worse rucks in the league last year so Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet will be a vast improvement on what we were dishing up in 2023. With our young midfield rarely getting a centre bounce advantage last year, I am hoping that Soldo or Sweet can put a put a few on a platter as even a small advantage to the Three Amigos will spell disaster to the opposition defenders but a Happy Meal on the platter will means domination.
Also, will we play Soldo and Sweet together like we did with Lycett and Ladhams?
This is probably the most serious improvement our side can have in 2024.
While the KPDs was a real struggle for 2023, the ruck situation was probably even quietly worse.
WHAT WILL OUR MEDIUM DEFENDERS LOOK LIKE?
While not set in stone, we usually play three tall forwards and we now have them in Ratugolea, Aliir and Zerk-Thatcher.
We have high quality players for medium defenders in Dan Houston, Ryan Burton, Kane Farrell, Dylan Williams, Lachie Jones and Josh Sinn.
With one of the better problems for our coaches to ponder, we have six very good candidates to go into three positions with maybe one or two landing on the bench.
I don't think Dan Houston will be moved from the seagull quarterback defender as he was brilliant at it last year. Once Naicos went into the midfield, Houston was up against Jack Sinclair for aces at that position. All 3 made the AA side. He is a special piece of defence down there.
We have a big name in Ryan Burton who struggled for form but was shunted around the paddock for most of the year.. He was dropped twice but came back and delivers a second seagull attacker from defence if needed. When Burton's kicking boot is on, he is as good as anyone in F50 attacks although a bit underwhelming as a defender.
Kane had a bit of a breakout season last year but still has room to improve. Does he play down in defence or does he play on the wing?
The pleasant surprise of the season went to Dylan Williams who just about everyone was calling to be delisted but found a home in defence. Hopefully he gets unrookied and back on the main list. He has a great kick which can find a needle in a haystack but also happens to be a very good one on one defender especially in the marking contest that a few other medium defenders lack.
Can Lachie Jones improve his game and become a regular in the 22 and begin to excel and shut down in his role. Unlike the four defenders above, Lachie Jones brings a different look down back with athleticism and power to his game.
And lastly, Josh Sinn, a highly touted and highly drafted speedster out of the Sandy Dragons is looking to get some games in the side. He has a point of difference with the medium defenders as he is lightning quick, athletic and will break lines. I hope he gets a run of games because I think he just needs a bit of confidence to start flashing that potential that had him originally as a number 1 overall pick early in his draft year. When it comes down to it, we really have to see what we've got with him.
HOW WILL OUR TALL FORWARDS SHAKE OUT?
Without a truly dominant number one tall forward, we rely on many KPF sharing the load in the forward line. Every tall forward for the Power has a question mark.
While Todd Marshall will be first called but he has concussion protocol issues that seemed to wane as the year went on but most definitely has to be monitored for his career but also for his own well-being. Everyone is pulling for Todd.
Underappreciated by the Power fans, Dixon is old and injured and seems to like to put his foot in his mouth whenever a microphone is nearby.
Explosive Mitchell Georgiades is returning from a major injury but could have the most athleticism and talent out of our forwards and gives us a different look.
Finlayson is a do it all whose form starting hot and slowed down as the year wore on.
And young firebrand Ollie Lord who showed the Power fans a glimpse of possibilities with 4 goals in a QF against the Lions and Harris Andrews.
Do we play 2 or 3 tall forwards? Does the versatility of Finlayson give him the edge as the 3rd KPF? How will the knee hold up for Mitch? Does Charlie have one last hurrah or is he going to the big mechanics shop in the sky? Does Ollie smell blood on the water and demands the FF role?
Lots of questions that will be answered in March and some serious roads for improvement.
WINES CAN ONLY PLAY ONE SPOT, DOES HE PLAY IT?
2021 seems like a long time ago for Ollie. If we could get Wines up to Brownlow Medal form, the midfield would become irresistible. Even 80% would be devastating for the rest of the comp. Wines digging in there shovelling the ball out to the Three Amigos would be awesome.
His recent form is murky and the jury is still out if it based on injuries, wear and tear or a lack of a preseason. We should know soon enough.
Without the threat of captaincy, it allows Wines to be a bit selfish but in a good way and focus in on his game of being an inside, hard running midfielder who makes contest after contest.
The question is if he is good to go and we have other midfielders who are above him on the pecking order, does he gets 50% of centre bounce attendances like last year which was on a downhill trend towards the end of the season. And where is he playing when not in the centre.
WHICH YOUNG GUYS WITH LITTLE TO NO AFL GAMES WILL GET A SNIFF?
The one candidate that intrigues is Hugh Jackson who could bring a real difference to the end of the rotation of the midfield.
Will Jase Burgoyne get the wing job?
Jackson Mead will be doing his best to push for play time in the middle.
Can the two goal-sneak rookies impress in the preseason or kick some early goals in the SANFL and apply some pressure to the spots of McEntee and Byrne-Jones?
Can the tall timber of Tom McCallum, Tom Scully and Kyle Marshall of the 2022 draft show some real development and begin to put some pressure on spots?
CAN WE WIN AGAINST TEAMS WHOSE GAME IS CONTESTED BALL?
This is more to do with coaching than anything.
Last year we struggled against any team that played strong contested ball. We lost both times against Collingwood and Adelaide, late Carlton and both Finals against Brisbane and GWS.
The most damning loses were the Showdowns were the eventual 11th best team of the comp decimated us both times IIRC before half time with strong, contested ball winning.
The coaching staff really needs to address this issue if we want to go deep in finals.
CAN OUR STAR MIDFIELD REST IN THE FORWARD LINE?
Our three stars, the Three Amigos, are natural forward players who could rest in the forward line. Do we do that or leave them on the bench?
WILL WE TRY OTHER PLAYERS IN THE MIDFIELD AND CENTRE BOUNCE ATTENDANCE?
The Three Amigos will get plenty of time.
Drew will get his time in the centre.
How much time does Wines get?
Will Boak trend down for time in the middle and pretty much stay out of the centre?
Does either of Hugh Jackson, Sam Powell-Pepper, Miles Bergman, Jackson Mead or someone one else get to apply their trade in the centre and give us other looks in the back of the rotation of our midfield?
HOW WILL THE LEADERSHIP GROUP MAKE AN IMPACT?
With Rozee becoming captain and his friend Zak Butters being vice-captain and Sam Powell-Pepper, Dan Houston and Willem Drew in the leadership group, how does this changing of the leadership guard effect the playing group?
Can we expect a more steely resolve from Rozee and Butters? Is Rozee going to play good cop and Butters bad cop?
CONCLUSION
So I think that within the playing group considering we finished 3rd last year there is a big possibility for a huge improvement from the team in many areas of our game.
Of course, the coaching is a huge problem but we are primed for another step forward or two or ten for next year.
Go the Power!!!!!
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