An 0-5 start to the season all but ended Port Adelaide's finals hopes for 2022, and, despite a much-improved rest of the season, Ken Hinkley's side would finish in 11th with a 10-12 record - eight points outside the top eight.
The disappointing season has left fans restless after making back-to-back preliminary final appearances in 2020 and 2021.
In terms of departures, superstar Robbie Gray have retired, as has veteran small forward Steven Motlop.
Wingman Karl Amon expressed his desire to explore the free agency market, with a move to Hawthorn on the cards, while the club also announced the delistings of former Lions pair Sam Mayes and Sam Skinner, and untried father-son rookie Taj Schofield.
The Power will be desperate for a better start to 2023 as they seek a return to September action.
We've compiled a list, in no particular order, of five targets that Port Adelaide could target this off-season to help them rebound next year.
TRADE TARGETS: ADELAIDE, BRISBANE, CARLTON, COLLINGWOOD, ESSENDON, FREMANTLE, GEELONG, GOLD COAST, GWS, HAWTHORN, MELBOURNE
Out-of-contract Bulldogs star Josh Dunkley has continued to be linked with an exit from Whitten Oval throughout 2022 and with the Bulldogs squeezing into the eight, the saga could draw on longer.
A midfielder that can win his own football and apply pressure, Dunkley also has the ability to play up forward and contribute on the scoreboard.
The premiership player averaged 25.5 disposals, 5.7 tackles and kicked 17 majors in 22 games so far this year but remains unsigned.
A dynamic player that has been linked to Port, Dunkley would add another dimension to the Power's midfield engine room and forward line.
With Robbie Gray gone, having a midfielder that can hit the scoreboard could prove very useful for Ken Hinkley's side and at just 25 years old, his best footy is still ahead of Dunkley.
The Power currently hold Pick 8 in this year's National Draft, which is likely to be used should Dunkley seek a change of scenery with the midfielder not qualifying as a free agent.
Future picks might be needed too but Dunkley's qualities would immediately improve Port's list and shoot them straight back into finals contention.
His situation will be an interesting storyline to follow as the season progresses in 2022, so keep an eye out.
With Karl Amon out the door, Port Adelaide could secure a winger to slot right in and fill the void.
Blake Acres is out of contract this year and has arguably enjoyed a career-best year at the much-improved Dockers playing on the wing.
Acres hasn't been linked to Port officially but there's an opportunity to turn his head towards a move to the Power.
The 26-year-old has averaged 21.28 disposals and 5.61 marks this year in 18 games so far and could be a great fit at Port Adelaide.
Hard-running and a generally good kick, Acrees wouldn't cost as much as a Dunkley but could be a just as useful piece of the puzzle.
An out-of-contract South Australian that could be on the move is St Kilda intercept defender Tom Highmore.
The 24-year-old has been starved of opportunity at the Saints this season with the rise of Callum Wilkie and Josh Battle keeping him on the outer.
With the likes of Tom Jonas, Tom Clurey and Trent McKenzie in their late 20s and early 30s, the Power could look to restocking their defensive figures this offseason.
At 193cm, Highmore can play taller than his size but has largely been used as an intercept defender but could thrive under a more important defensive role at the Power.
He wouldn't cost the Power much in terms of capital, with Highmore only featuring three times at AFL level this year after playing 13 in his debut season last year.
Highmore has been impressive at VFL level for Sandringham, where he has shown that he is too good to be stuck at that level so a move could do him the world should he seek one.
In his three games, Highmore has averaged 14.3 disposals, 1.7 intercept marks and 2.3 spoils per game in what were handy performances.
Like Acres, there haven't been any official links to the Power for Highmore, but he is certainly an option that could be explored.
The Magpies ruckman is no stranger to links back home to South Australia, with the 28-year-old previously sought by the Power before signing a bumper seven-year deal in 2020.
However, just two years into the deal, Grundy's name has come up again in trade conservations with the two-time All Australian reportedly on the market.
Grundy has played the first six games of the year before a knee injury and further issues ruled him out for the season, with Darcy Cameron rising to the occasion with some fantastic performances as the ruckman.
However, in his six games, Grundy continued to put up impressive numbers - averaging 16.8 disposals, 30.3 hit-outs and 5.5 clearances per game.
This time around, Grundy has been officially linked to Melbourne, Geelong, GWS and Hawthorn in recent weeks as discussion heats up over a potential exit.
However, Port should be re-engaging in talks with Collingwood and Grundy over a move at the end of the season.
Like Collingwood, Port's number one ruckman Scott Lycett has missed most of the season with a shoulder injury and has seen the club resort to using Jeremy Finlayson, Sam Hayes and mid-season recruit Brynn Teakle to handle the ruck duties.
In recent weeks, Finlayson has flourished in the role where he impacts not only in the ruck contests but around the ball as well, with Teakle also impressing in his small sample size of game time.
With the Magpies reportedly open to paying a chunk of Grundy's large salary, a move to Port would benefit all parties in 2023.
Grundy's elite ability would see him be the number one ruck but his expertise could be passed on to the emerging Teakle and even Finlayson to improve their overall rucking abilities.
He shouldn't cost the world given Collingwood seem open to a departure, and his acquisition would be a huge coup for the Power if they targeted Grundy.
Definitely a left-field option but could Fremantle's Bailey Banfield help fill the forward line holes left by the departures of Robbie Gray and Steven Motlop?
An unrestricted free agent at season's end, Bainfield remains unsigned despite playing 21 games this season for Fremantle.
At 190cm, Banfield has the ability to play smaller than his size suggests and has averaged just under a goal per game this year.
The 24-year-old's around the ground numbers aren't eye-catching, averaging just 6.8 disposals and 1.2 tackles per game, albeit with four games as an unused medi-sub and more as a used medi-sub.
Banfield has an eye for goal and might wish to search for more consistency and he could find a spot in Port's forward line in 2023.
He would be a cheap pick-up and should improve his output, he could become a useful signing for any club that chooses to go after him this off-season should he seek a move.
Definitely not an obvious selection but with a limited market for goal-kicking forwards, this is certainly one move that could happen, with Banfield's contract saga to most likely run on into finals.