2020 Season Preview Draft
(or, the r/weareportadelaide 2020 Season preview for the)
#PORT ADELAIDE FOOTBALL CLUB Est 1870 (entered AFL 1997, merged with PAMFC in 2010)
r/weareportadelaide, www.portadelaidefc.com.au, www.since1870.com.au
##Premierships
- AFL: 2004 (1)
- SANFL: 1884, 1890, 1897, 1903, 1906, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1921, 1928, 1936, 1937, 1939, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999 (36)
- Champions of Australia: 1890, 1910, 1913, 1914 (4)
##Home Grounds
- Adelaide Oval (since 2014, capacity: 53,500)
- Alberton Oval (since 1880, capacity: 15,000)
##Club Songs
- Power To Win (official)
- Not Giving In
- Never Tear Us Apart
##Mottos
- We Are Port Adelaide
- Never Tear Us Apart
- Proud Past, Bold Future
##Mascot
#2019 Season
- Ladder Position - 10th (11-11-0, 105.4%)
- Leading Goalkicker - Connor Rozee (29)
- John Cahill Medal (Best and Fairest) - Travis Boak
- Gavin Wanganeen Medal (Best Player Under 21) - Connor Rozee
##Season Summary
If you had to describe Port Adelaide’s 2019 season in one word, it would be inconsistent. At our best, we defeated the reigning premiers, West Coast, by 7 goals in Perth. At our worst, we limped to a nearly 15 goal belting at the hands of North Melbourne at Docklands.
The season got off to a rocky start when the club appointed Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas as co-captains, doing away with the nearly 100-year tradition of Port Adelaide having one captain wearing the number 1 on his back. The supporter base was generally against the decision, which was compounded by the fact that Wines had dislocated his shoulder in a water-skiing accident in January.
A couple of early wins were followed by a couple of losses, and on it went. We managed back to back wins on three occasions, but could never gain any real momentum, and never felt like we had a chance of threatening in September. We finished the season in 10th position, one game outside of the 8 – a very similar outcome to 2018, despite a very different route to get there.
Injuries saw a number of senior players miss games, with Wines, Jonas, Hamish Hartlett, Charlie Dixon, Jack Watts, Matthew Broadbent and Brad Ebert all spending at least four weeks on the injured list. This also lead to Travis Boak and Dougal Howard standing in as captain in rounds 8 and 9, respectively.
On a positive note, Boak seemed like a new man after relinquishing the captaincy at the end of 2018, amassing 637 disposals from 21 games, earning him the John Cahill Medal as the club’s Best and Fairest. First round draft picks Connor Rozee (22 games, 336 disposals, 29 goals, leading goalkicker and Gavin Wanganeen Medal for best player under 21), Zak Butters (19 games, 269 disposals, 12 goals) and Xavier Duursma (20 games, 392 disposals, 11 goals) all showed they have bright futures ahead of them.
#Personnel
##Leadership Group
- Tom Jonas (captain)
- Ollie Wines (vice-captain)
- Hamish Hartlett (vice-captain)
##Coaching Staff
- Ken Hinkley
- Michael Voss (senior assistant)
- Brett Montgomery (defence)
- Jarrad Schofield (midfield)
- Nathan Bassett (forward)
- Dean Brogan (ruck)
- Trent Hentschel (defence development)
- Scott Thompson (midfield development)
- Chad Cornes (forward development)
- Geoff Morris (development)
##Key Staff
- David Koch (Chairman)
- Keith Thomas (CEO)
- Chris Davies (General Manager - Football)
- Matthew Richardson (Executive General Manager)
- Jason Cripps (List Manager)
##Current List
| Number | Name | Height | Weight | DoB | 2019 Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Jonas (c) | 188 | 89 | 09.01.91 | 18 |
| 2 | Sam Powell-Pepper | 187 | 91 | 08.01.98 | 19 |
| 3 | Ryan Burton | 191 | 90 | 31.01.97 | 16 |
| 4 | Todd Marshall | 198 | 87 | 08.10.98 | 10 |
| 5 | Dan Houston | 186 | 83 | 12.05.97 | 21 |
| 6 | Steven Motlop | 183 | 76 | 12.03.91 | 14 |
| 7 | Brad Ebert | 189 | 90 | 02.04.90 | 11 |
| 8 | Hamish Hartlett (vc) | 185 | 83 | 14.08.90 | 11 |
| 9 | Robbie Gray | 183 | 84 | 30.03.88 | 19 |
| 10 | Travis Boak | 183 | 85 | 01.08.88 | 21 |
| 11 | Tom Rockliff | 185 | 85 | 22.02.90 | 18 |
| 12 | Trent McKenzie | 191 | 83 | 03.04.92 | 1 |
| 13 | Wylie Buzza | 199 | 102 | 02.03.96 | - |
| 14 | Miles Bergman | 188 | 77 | 18.10.01 | - |
| 15 | Karl Amon | 181 | 71 | 19.08.95 | 17 |
| 16 | Ollie Wines (vc) | 187 | 98 | 07.10.94 | 12 |
| 17 | Tom Clurey | 193 | 88 | 23.03.94 | 21 |
| 18 | Zak Butters | 181 | 71 | 08.09.00 | 19 |
| 19 | Mitch Georgiades | 192 | 87 | 28.09.01 | - |
| 20 | Connor Rozee | 185 | 74 | 22.01.00 | 22 |
| 21 | Xavier Duursma | 186 | 73 | 07.07.00 | 20 |
| 22 | Charlie Dixon | 200 | 105 | 23.09.90 | 9 |
| 23 | Jack Watts | 196 | 88 | 26.03.91 | 2 |
| 24 | Kane Farrell | 182 | 74 | 17.03.99 | 7 |
| 25 | Sam Hayes | 203 | 93 | 09.06.99 | - |
| 26 | Riley Bonner | 190 | 85 | 07.03.97 | 19 |
| 27 | Joel Garner | 184 | 83 | 21.05.99 | 4 |
| 28 | Willem Drew | 188 | 78 | 01.10.98 | 10 |
| 29 | Scott Lycett | 203 | 98 | 26.09.92 | 18 |
| 30 | Joe Atley | 186 | 84 | 04.08.98 | 1 |
| 31 | Trent Burgoyne (r) | 177 | 67 | 02.10.01 | - |
| 32 | Sam Mayes | 187 | 84 | 20.05.94 | - |
| 33 | Darcy Byrne-Jones | 181 | 75 | 20.09.95 | 22 |
| 34 | Dylan Williams | 185 | 81 | 01.07.01 | - |
| 36 | Boyd Woodcock (r) | 174 | 70 | 05.03.00 | - |
| 37 | Jake Patmore | 181 | 72 | 29.01.99 | - |
| 38 | Peter Ladhams | 202 | 95 | 14.01.98 | 5 |
| 39 | Justin Westhoff | 199 | 96 | 01.10.86 | 20 |
| 40 | Jarrod Lienert | 195 | 88 | 05.08.94 | 7 |
| 41 | Riley Grundy (r) | 194 | 84 | 28.07.00 | - |
| 44 | Jackson Mead | 183 | 83 | 30.09.01 | - |
| 45 | Martin Frederick (b) | 178 | 74 | 17.05.00 | - |
| 47 | Tobin Cox (r) | 181 | 73 | 15.07.99 | - |
| 48 | Jake Pasini (r) | 193 | 82 | 06.02.01 | - |
| 50 | Cam Sutcliffe | 186 | 87 | 23.05.92 | 5 |
(c) Captain (vc) Vice-Captain (r) Rookie (b) Category B Rookie
#List Changes ##Delistings
- Matthew Broadbent
- Sam Gray
- Cam Hewett
- Aidyn Johnson
- Kai Pudney
- Jack Trengove
##Retirements
- N/A
##Signings
- Wylie Buzza (Free Agent, Geelong)
##Trades Out
- Billy Frampton
- Paddy Ryder
- Dougal Howard
In
- N/A
##Drafts
National Draft
- Pick 14: Miles Bergman
- Pick 18: Mitch Georgiades
- Pick 23: Dylan Williams
- Pick 25: Jackson Mead (F/S)
Rookie Draft
- Pick 8: Jake Pasini
- Pick 22: Trent Burgoyne (F/S)
- Pick 32: Boyd Woodcock (Re-rookied)
- Pick 38: Riley Grundy (Re-rookied)
##Coaching Changes
In
- Geoff Morris
#2020 Season
2020 sees Port Adelaide celebrating their 150th anniversary. The club has introduced a new logo, which will be used by both the AFL and SANFL sides, the first time they've had the same logo. There is also a fantastic website detailing the history of the club over the last 150 years, since1870.com.au.
As part of the celebrations, we will be wearing the traditional "prison bars" in Round 2, and club's first-ever guernsey (the light blue and white hoops) in Round 7.
The Club will also be releasing a book celebrating our 150 years, and a documentary which is set screen on national television. A separate feature-length documentary will also be screened as part of the Adelaide Film Festival.
The club will be expanding their High Performance Facility, re-developing the Alberton Oval precinct and the Port Club, and are working towards building an Aboriginal Centre of Excellence.
##Fixture Highlights
- Round 2 vs Adelaide, Sat 28 March, 7:10 ACDT: Our first home game in our 150th year, and for the first time ever, we take on our cross town rivals in the Prison Bars.
- Round 4 vs West Coast, Fri 10 April, 7:20 ACDT: A stand-alone game on Good Friday night.
- Round 6 vs Western Bulldogs, Sat 25 April, 7:20 ACDT: Port Adelaide will host an Anzac Round for the 8th consecutive year, and will play on Anzac Day for the 3rd time.
- Round 7 vs Carlton, Sat 2 May, 4:05 ACDT: The club will be celebrating its 150th birthday against the Blues (the team it defeated to be named the 1914 Champions of Australia) by wearing the club's first-ever guernsey, the light blue and white hoops. This will also be a double-header, with our SANFL team taking on North Adelaide (the team it defeated to win the SANFL Grand Final the same year) as a curtain raiser.
Teams played twice: West Coast, Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn, Adelaide, Gold Coast
##Players Personnel On Notice
u/BlokeDownUnder:
Ken Hinkley needs to coach the side to Finals this season to trigger the extension clause in his contract. With just one Finals appearance since we came oh-so-close in 2014, 2020 is make or break for Hinkley.
Trent McKenzie made the "On Notice" list last year, and has played just one game of AFL in each of the last two season.
##Players To Watch u/anonunga:
With the exit of Dougal Howard and Billy Frampton, there will be ample opportunity for Todd Marshall, Jack Watts and Wylie Buzza. We need I suspect at least two of those to play their best season yet to provide the support required for Charlie Dixon and Westhoff to perform their roles. Hopefully all the light it up.
Our young guns showed a huge amount of potential last season. The class of Rozee, Duursma and Butters have already drawn some comparisons to the 2006 draft class of Boak, Gray and Westhoff. If two or three of Miles Bergman, Mitch Georgiades, Dylan Williams and Jackson Mead can have a similar impact, we could see some pretty exciting footy from Port Adelaide this season.
Jack Watts showed some good signs before his season-ending injury in Round 2 last year. He'll no doubt be raring to go in 2020. Dan Houston has made the move from defence into the midfield, and is showing some pretty promising signs so far.
##Best 22
| Forward Pocket | Full Forward | Forward Pocket |
|---|---|---|
| Gray | Georgiades | Marshall |
| Half Forward Flank | Centre Half Forward | Half Forward Flank |
| Rozee | Dixon | Butters |
| Wing | Centre | Wing |
| Amon | Houston | Duursma |
| Ruck | Ruck Rover | Rover |
| Lycett | Wines | Boak |
| Half Back Flank | Centre Half Back | Half Back Flank |
| Burton | Watts | Hartlett |
| Back Pocket | Full Back | Back Pocket |
| Byrne-Jones | Clurey | Jonas |
| Interchange | Interchange | Interchange |
| Westhoff | Rockliff | Powell-Pepper |
| Interchange | ||
| Ebert |
by u/BlokeDownUnder and u/duffercoat
##Expectations u/BlokeDownUnder:
There are pretty high expectations on the side this year with the celebration of our 150th anniversary. The squad is heavy on both ends of the age spectrum, with the second-least players in the 22-26 age bracket. 22 players have 20 or fewer games under their belt, so inexperience may be a factor.
So far my preseason watch has picked up:
Dixon is fit and healthy - and heavy! 108kgs at the moment (3kgs more than last year) but apparently in more focused strength.
Georgiades and Mead have really impressed and demonstrated they're capable of playing early in 2020.
Very few injuries at the moment - 43 players are out training currently, with only Ollie unable to train.
Butters has significantly increased his running capacity and is hoping to see more midfield minutes and cement himself in the teams best 22.
Powell-Pepper has made a move to play a more dedicated forward role, while Westhoff has been training as a tall defender where his intercept marking is best used.
A breakout start, a mediocre middle of season and a late 3-round surge to just make the 8. Will probably make semi-finals but no further.
##Concerns
List depth. Lack of tall forwards obviously, and the age of the list is dangerously long.
The gap between the young players and the veterans is pretty big. A couple of injuries to senior players, and all of a sudden we could become a fairly inexperienced side pretty quickly.
Hinkley has a tendency to pick on reputation or favouritism. If some of those players are struggling to find form, it makes it hard for the rest of the playing group, and those who are trying to break into the side.
##Opportunities
If ken and co. can develop consistency this yr, we could be a premiership contender, although I doubt we will get far this year.
There's a lot of quality youth in the side. If Rozee, Duursma and Butters can continue on their 2019 trajectory, and a few of the 2020 draftees can have a similar impact, we could see some really exciting footy from this side.
##Looking ahead
2020 will most likely be a year of development. We'll have a crack, and take someone's finals spot most likely but we won't go far. 2021 will be the year when we have a proper crack - when the young ones are experienced with finals and when consistency is gained.
Notes from the author: A massive thanks to everyone over at r/weareportadelaide who contributed, particularly u/anonunga, u/jhdrumming and especially our regular season preview compiler u/duffercoat. Also a shout out to everyone else creating these for all the other clubs. They're not easy, and something I took a bit for granted before I put my hand up to do one myself.
Posted Jan 2, 2020, 11:39 AM UTC · edited
Is the redevelopment going ahead? Great!
I'm going off the email from KT on Dec 11. Could well have changed since then, but I haven't heard anything.
I thought it got the can with the state election result, but I'm happy to be wrong.