Janus
Advocatus Diaboli
- Sep 9, 2007
- 23,391
- 57,233
- AFL Club
- Port Adelaide
- Other Teams
- Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bulls
"That's alright. I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be." - Blood Diamond
The chemical composition of coal and diamond is, scientifically speaking, exactly the same. The only difference? Diamonds are created in a high pressure, high temperature environment. That is how any champion team is formed - not when things are easy, but when they are hard. When things are at their toughest. The great Port Adelaide teams of the past knew this - that the greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory tasted.
The 2016 season hasn't even started, and already we've lost two best 22 players. Things have become more difficult, and only a fool would deny that we are now walking a tightrope for the entire season. But let's just consider what improvements we have made to the team over the off season:
We're exactly where we are supposed to be. Now it's time to go to work.
The chemical composition of coal and diamond is, scientifically speaking, exactly the same. The only difference? Diamonds are created in a high pressure, high temperature environment. That is how any champion team is formed - not when things are easy, but when they are hard. When things are at their toughest. The great Port Adelaide teams of the past knew this - that the greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory tasted.
The 2016 season hasn't even started, and already we've lost two best 22 players. Things have become more difficult, and only a fool would deny that we are now walking a tightrope for the entire season. But let's just consider what improvements we have made to the team over the off season:
- We've recruited a powerful key forward in Charlie Dixon, who despite a minor setback in the past week, has completed all the fitness side of the preseason. This will enable us to straighten up our play more.
- We are welcoming back guys like Ollie Wines and Jared Polec, vital cogs in the way we play our game. Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove are also joining our side pain free. In fact, aside from the loss of Ryder and Monfries, and the loss of Dixon for a few weeks, the entire squad is at 100% fitness (or close to it).
- We've also recruited a former top five draft pick in Dimitri Toumpas, who has earned high praise from the coaches and has put forth a great case to be considered for the R1 team.
- We've recruited a world class strength and conditioning coach in Mladen Jovanovic to complement the fitness work done by our world class head of high performance in Darren Burgess
- We've recruited Nathan Bassett, a highly defensive minded coach who, according to the players, has a very clear and concise way of getting them to know exactly what he wants
- For the first time in a long time, every single position on the park (apart from ruck for obvious reasons) has pressure on it. No one can coast, because there are players out of the team that deserve a spot just as much as the players in the side.
- The entire squad learned over the course of 2015 to take nothing for granted. Losing Ryder and Monfries will ensure that Port is switched on early and prepared to crush opposition because there is no guarantee that Lobbe will be available for every match, so we are going to have to bank as many wins and percentage as we can, when we can.
- Matthew Lobbe has previously shown that he thrives under the pressure of rucking the entire game because he feels like he is making a meaningful contribution to the side.
- Players like Jake Neade are beginning to mature and grow into a more robust body, which is going to enable them to stand up to the rigors of football.
- And lastly, we've strengthened our midfield coaching by bringing back Gary Hocking from the Magpies, leaving our reserves to a club legend in Chad Cornes.
We're exactly where we are supposed to be. Now it's time to go to work.