LAST WEEK
While it was disappointing to finish off with a four-goal deficit, I thought our effort was great and a vast improvement on previous weeks. Apart from 12 minutes of the last quarter we were playing some very good football and were right in the game.

THIS WEEK
Fifty per cent of Port Adelaide’s goals come from stopped plays. So stoppages around the ground, at centre bounces and especially in their forward 50 are a real key for them. If we can reduce their ascendancy in that area, it will provide a great opportunity of beating them.

THE MOOD ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Off-field: We have young players keen to impress and wanting to put their best foot forward. It is an exciting group who are definitely getting better.

On-field: They are getting used to the game plan Brett Ratten has put in place. It is evolving well for the boys and they are doing the best they can, but it is still going to take a bit of time.

PORT’S POWER
They are an extremely skilled outfit and I honestly think they are a top-four side. Their possessions have gone up over the last four or five weeks and really sharing the ball around. The execution of their skills is right up there with the top three or four sides.

Up forward, they have a good spread of goalkickers and a number of guys that can go through the middle. Justin Westhoff has been an exciting player and is a great prospect for them. Their defence is holding up well. Michael Pettigrew and Troy Chaplin are two players who have held it together and obviously Toby Thurstans has also been playing well. So, yes, I certainly rate them highly.

THIS WEEK’S TACTICS
I think with all teams you have to identify the opposition’s key players. Obviously Chad Cornes is one of them – I think he kicked 6.2 against Melbourne two weeks ago. He was heavily tagged against Adelaide last week so he is definitely one of the players we have been looking at.

However, you can not tag all of them so we will be focusing on getting enough run and rebound from our defenders who, over the last two weeks, have performed really well. By achieving that run from defence we will force them to be accountable both ways.

THE CONTEST
One of the Burgoyne brothers came out and said they were not going to take us lightly. I think they believe they did that last time we played them. Port will also want to make amends for last week’s showdown. However, we are ready for them and we believe we can win.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.