Port aims higher, Crows bounce back

Crows dynamo Patrick Dangerfield and Power star Hamish Hartlett clash during Showdown XXXV as Adelaide skipper Nathan van Berlo looks on. Source: News Limited

PORT Adelaide was the big improver of 2013 while the Crows had a horror season. We analyse both teams' chances for season 2014.

ADELAIDE 2014

IN:

Eddie Betts (Carlton), 27, small forward

James Podsiadly (Geelong), 32, forward

Kyle Hartigan (promoted from rookie list), 23, tall defender

Rory Laird (promoted from rookie list), 20, small defender

Matt Crouch (North Ballarat), 18, midfielder

Riley Knight (Woodville-West Torrens), 18, utility

OUT:

Richard Tambling (delisted)

Ian Callinan (delisted, now Crows reserves captain)

Nick Joyce (delisted)

Aidan Riley (delisted, picked up by Melbourne

Graham Johncock (retired)

Bernie Vince (traded to Melbourne)

Crows coach Brenton Sanderson at preseason training. Picture: Stephen Laffer. Source: News Limited

COACHES

BRENTON SANDERSON (senior coach)

Dean Bailey (strategy and innovations coach)

Mark Bickley (forward coach)

Scott Camporeale (midfield coach)

Darren Milburn (backline coach)

BEST 22

B:

Luke Brown, 21, 24 games

Ben Rutten, 30, 215 games

Rory Laird, 19, 18 games

HB:

Brodie Smith, 21, 54 games

Daniel Talia, 22, 54 games

Brent Reilly, 30, 193 games

C:

David Mackay, 25, 105 games

Patrick Dangerfield, 23, 109 games

Brad Crouch, 19, 14 games

HF:

Richard Douglas, 26, 136 games

Taylor Walker, 23, 69 games

Tom Lynch, 23, 23 games

F:

Eddie Betts, 27, 184 games

James Podsiadly, 32, 83 games

Matthew Wright, 23, 58 games

R:

Sam Jacobs, 25, 82 games

Scott Thompson, 30, 245 games

Rory Sloane, 23, 78 games

INT:

Nathan van Berlo, 27, 182 games

Josh Jenkins, 24, 28 games

Jason Porplyzia, 28, 126 games

Mitch Grigg, 20, 5 games

HOW THEY'LL PLAY

Coach Brenton Sanderson was an important part of the premierships at Geelong, the club at which he was a player for most of his career before becoming an assistant coach. He still believes the Geelong way is the right way to play: a platform of a steady and accountable defence allowing for flair and run when the ball is in his players' hands. The Crows will look leaner this season after a summer spent on more running and a slightly smaller emphasis on building muscle in the gym. Much of that has to do with the cap in interchange rotations - and the Crows used the bench more than most before there was a limit - and also the way Sanderson and his staff see the game developing.

Midfielder Brad Crouch is the man to watch in 2014, his second year at AFL level. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Limited

READY TO FLY

Brad Crouch impressed from his first moment in a Crows jumper, and there is an expectation he will develop into an elite player. He's an old-fashioned footballer's footballer - one with an innate sense of where the ball is likely to go next, which player is likely to do what. He has pace, strength and skills that suggest he could be part of one of the best midfields in the competitions.

PORT ADELAIDE 2014

IN:

Matthew White (Richmond), 26, midfielder

Jared Polec (Brisbane), 21, midfielder

Jarman Impey (Murray Bushrangers U18), 18, utility

Mitch Harvey (North Adelaide), 18, key forward

Darcy Byrne-Jones (Oakleigh Chargers U18), 18, defender

Karl Amon (Sandringham Dragons U18), 18, defender

OUT:

Matt Thomas (Richmond)

Brett Ebert (retired)

Nick Salter (delisted)

Daniel Stewart (delisted)

Nathan Blee (delisted)

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley takes preseason training at North Adelaide. Source: News Limited

COACHES

KEN HINKLEY (senior coach)

Phil Walsh (midfield manager)

Josh Carr (midfield coach)

Matthew Nicks (defence coach)

Tyson Edwards (forwards coach)

BEST 22

B:

Jasper Pittard, 22, 31 games

Alipate Carlile, 26, 133 games

Tom Jonas, 22, 34 games

HB:

Matthew Broadbent, 23, 79 games

Jackson Trengove, 23, 78 games

Dom Cassisi, 31, 215 games

C:

Brad Ebert, 23, 122 games

Travis Boak, 25, 131 games

Kane Cornes, 30, 268 games

HF:

Chad Wingard, 20, 43 games

Justin Westhoff, 27, 134 games

Andrew Moore, 22, 41 games

F:

Angus Monfries, 26, 174 games

Jay Schulz, 28, 142 games

Robbie Gray, 25, 90 games

RUCK:

Matthew Lobbe, 24, 43 games

Ollie Wines, 19, 24 games

Hamish Hartlett, 23, 68 games

INT:

Jared Polec, 21, 16 games

Matthew White, 26, 105 games

Cameron O'Shea, 21, 46 games

Aaron Young, 21, 17 games

HOW THEY'LL PLAY

With more speed. Port pinpointed the "need for speed'' in the off-season, securing five players with pace to burn. The lightning-quick Matthew White (from Richmond) and Jared Polec (Brisbane) are expected to be in the club's best 22 while teenage draft pick-ups Jarman Impey, Darcy Byrne-Jones and Karl Amon have been tucked away for the future. The talented Impey could make an instant impact next season. "We've got a lot quicker, a lot more explosive,'' football operations manager Peter Rohde said. "We played more of a combative style of football last season and we wanted to add some speed to our team to cover both the attacking and defensive side of our game. We think we've done that and we look forward to seeing what these players can do.'' Midfield should be a strength for Port with White and Polec adding to an already quality group of ballwinners.

"Man mountain" Matthew Lobbe battles with Collingwood's Brody Grundy during last year's second elimination final at the MCG. Picture: Colleen Petch. Source: News Limited

READY TO FLY

Matthew Lobbe. The once injury-prone ruckman - a first-round draft pick in 2007 - nearly doubled his games tally last season and is now poised to become one of the premier big men in the competition. Lobbe has enjoyed his best pre-season, stacking on muscle while running elite times for a big man. Teammate Jasper Pittard says Lobbe is "fast becoming a man mountain''.


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