Good news for port Adelaide: He is back
Port Adelaide returns to risky deal approach, raising questions about 2023 draft depth.
Port Adelaide was one of several AFL teams to acquired four players during the trade period, along with Essendon, Hawthorn, and Sydney.
The Power focused primarily on important defenders Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, as well as rucks Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet.
These were important additions for the team, which has struggled with backline and ruck depth all season. However, what they gave up in exchange raises some worries.
After the trading period, Port Adelaide has just 73 picks in the National Draft, while Fremantle has received the future-first selection. Essendon acquired winger Xavier Duursma in a last-minute transfer with Zerk-Thatcher.
It means the Power have little to no draft capital this year and will most likely be without a first-round pick for the third consecutive year next season.
Much of the draft troubles may be traced back to last year’s Jason Horne-Francis transaction. In the’mega-deal’, list manager Jason Cripps traded pick 8 and future first, second, and third picks for former Kangaroo and forward Willie Rioli.
Port Adelaide appears to be willing to take risks in pursuit of a championship.
Port Adelaide’s 2023 draft depth
Powerfootball manager Chris Davies is confident that his club made the correct decision to prioritize mature talent over youth, citing a thin draft as one reason for the plan.
“We’re just not sure how much depth is in this draft,” Davies told SEN Afternoons on Friday.
“When you go through every draft, you always find players that can play 100 or 200 games after pick 20, so we’re excited to take a look at that.
“But we did come into this year’s draft thinking there might be a challenge with the depth after the top six or eight.”Davies also stated that the draft will be “compromised,” with a handful of Gold Coast Academy players and Father-Son prospects anticipated to be selected in the first round.
Though less than ideal, Port Adelaide’s pick 73 might slip into the 50-60 region, as some teams are anticipated to pass on their picks at the conclusion of the draft.
Port Adelaide’s distinctive list management
While Port Adelaide might go three seasons without any top-tier draft prospects, it does have one of the strongest young cores in the AFL.Former No.1 pick Horne-Francis looks ready to explode, while Connor Rozee and Zak Butters both — 23 years of age — are best and fairest winners.
Defenders Miles Bergman and Lachie Jones have also shown potential, though the club’s 2021 first-rounder Josh Sinn has yet to make an impact at the AFL level.
As for trade pickups, recruit defenders Ratugolea and Zerk-Thatcher have plenty of football ahead of them.
They, along with Soldo and Sweet, fit a specific need the side clearly lacked in the finals, as it crashed out in straight sets.
Without the four acquisitions, there’s little doubt the efforts of an ageing Trent McKenzie or Scott Lycett wouldn’t be enough to continue the Power’s run of form.
So even if it means leaving the draft behind, Port Adelaide will compete for a premiership again in 2024.
