Every club's best 22 for '22: Port Adelaide

With another year of experience for their young guns, can the Power be Premiers in 2022?

STAFF WRITER | January 24, 2022 - 2:40pm

Whilst the Power have been relatively successful in the last couple of years under Ken Hinkley, they will be more hungry than ever in 2022 to hold up that cup come to the end of the season.

Despite having been the best home and away side over the last two years with finishes of first and second in consecutive years, the Power have stumbled at the second last hurdle two years in a row.

Thus, it is evident that something must change for the club; whether it be psychologically, physically or talent-wise.

Despite losing Hamish Hartlett (retirement) and Peter Ladhams (Sydney) over the off-season, the Power have kept a very similar dynamic going into the 2022 season.

The major gains for the Alberton side include the likes of ex-Giant Jeremy Finlayson and delisted Kangaroo Trent Dumont who were both handed lifelines in the rookie draft.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Jeremy Finlayson of the Giants celebrates kicking a goal during the round 20 AFL match between the Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans at GIANTS Stadium on August 03, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos via Getty Images )

Ins: Jase Burgoyne (National Draft), Jeremy Finlayson (GWS Giants), Hugh Jackson (National Draft), Josh Sinn (National Draft), Sam Skinner (Brisbane Lions), Dante Visentini (National Draft), Trent Dumont (Rookie Draft), Sam Mayes (Rookie Draft)

Outs: Trent Burgoyne (delisted), Joel Garner (delisted), Tyson Goldsack (delisted), Hamish Hartlett (delisted), Peter Ladhams (Sydney Swans), Jarrod Lienert (delisted), Tom Rockliff (retired), Boyd Woodcock (delisted)

Defenders

Port Adelaide has boasted one of the best backlines of the competition; something Ken Hinkley will try to replicate once again in 2022.

Stars Tom Jonas and Aliir Aliir will headline the defence with one to take the opposition team's second-best forward and the other to play as a third man up and interceptor each week.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 09: Aliir Aliir of Port Adelaide during the round four AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Richmond Tigers at Adelaide Oval on April 09, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Despite being third in the pecking order of tall defenders at the club, Trent McKenzie will be hoping to shut down the opposition's best forward every week whilst taking most kick-outs for the side with his long left foot. McKenzie will be joined by Dan Houston and Ryan Burton, who with their skilful penetrating right boots will hope to set the Power up in attack.

All-Australian Darcy Byrne-Jones will also take his spot on half-back alongside the experienced Dan Houston.

Midfielders

Shifting to the middle of the ground, Port Adelaide will be hoping to keep up their contested ball game and clearances game ahead of the 2022 season.

With reigning Brownlow medallist and superstar Ollie Wines the main man for the Power, the side will gain first access to the footy multiple times a game.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 22: Ollie Wines of the Power looks on during the round 14 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval on June 22, 2018 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Add the ageless Travis Boak and contested ball beast Willem Drew and you have a bunch of great on-ballers ready to do the dirty work for the team.

On the wing, star Karl Amon will be hoping to continue his brilliant form whilst the energetic Xavier Duursma will occupy the other wing to give the side some more run. Such run and carry will be of great importance for the Power to break lines.

Tapping it down to them will be West Coast Premiership player and hard nut Scott Lycett who will also be used by Hinkley to go forward and kick goals.

Forwards

The greatest weakness of Ken Hinkley's side over the last two years has been the inability to kick big totals when it matters. Corroborating this, the Power haven't scored more than 45 in either of their two Preliminary Finals in the last two years. Thus, the Power must find ways to kick more goals in the upcoming season.

As the key man, Charlie Dixon will be expected to get back to his 2020 form which saw him receive an All-Australian blazer.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Charlie Dixon of the Power celebrates after kicking a goal during the AFL First Elimination Final match between Port Adelaide Power and West Coast Eagles at Adelaide Oval on September 9, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

Supporting Dixon are Todd Marshall and ex-Giant Jeremy Finlayson who will be used both to free up pressure on Charlie Dixon and to kick goals of their own.

Crumbing at their feet, live wire forwards Connor Rozee, Zak Butters, Robbie Gray and Orazio Fantasia will both be striving for successful years on the scoreboard whilst putting a tonne of pressure on opposition defenders.

Having missed a big chunk of the 2021 season, high-flying young gun Mitch Georgiades will prove a major weapon for Hinkley given his athleticism and talent if he stays healthy.