Port Adelaide’s stability has them well placed to challenge for the premiership in 2022, according to former Western Bulldogs captain Luke Darcy.
The Power have lost home preliminary finals in consecutive seasons, exiting this year’s finals series courtesy of a 71-point thrashing to the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval.
Next season is shaping as a crucial campaign for Power coach Ken Hinkley as he enters his 10th year at the helm. Hinkley is chasing an elusive premiership with his contract due to expire at the end of 2023.
Darcy expects Port to compete for another top four finish if their key players can stay healthy.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.
“The footy clubs who have got stability on every level - from the board to the coaching staff to the CEO all the way through to the playing group, have the best chance to have success,” he told SEN SA Breakfast.
“Port have been very, very close in the last two or three years because in my mind they’ve had that stability and they haven’t made rash decisions.
“I think Ken Hinkley is an outstanding coach. They had a bad day in that last final, that happens from time to time.
“We saw Adelaide react really badly after the 2017 Grand Final and they probably still haven’t recovered since then.
“I see Port as being right up the top of the ladder if they stay sound and stay healthy. They’re going to be a really hard team to beat again.”
As for Port’s fierce rivals Adelaide, Darcy believes they’re on the right track under recently re-signed coach Matthew Nicks.
Nicks, who has won just 10 games in two years as coach, inked a two-year extension in early December in a sign of faith from the Crows.
“The Crows are looking for that stability now,” Darcy said.
“Matty Nicks appears to be a great coach. It looks like they’re starting to get that board alignment and the community of Adelaide behind them.
“I think they’re on the right path.”
Adelaide finished 15th on the ladder in 2021 with seven wins, four more than they registered in 2020.