Former AFL recruiter Matt Rendell is bullish on Port Adelaide’s prospects in 2023.
The Power endured a tough campaign in 2022, finishing 11th with a 10-12 win-loss record.
While Ken Hinkley’s side was poor last season, they still have plenty of talent on their list as proven by their first and second-place finishes in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Rendell referenced that talent in predicting them to bounce back quickly and make the top four in 2023, labelling their most recent season an aberration.
“I’ve got Port Adelaide in the top four,” Rendell said on SEN SA The Run Home.
“They stuffed up their pre-season last year, they finished second the year before and completely stuffed up their Preliminary Final and should’ve played Melbourne in a Grand Final in Perth – they would’ve been a massive chance to win it.
“They completely stuffed up last year, but they’re still a young team.”
After making his top four prediction, Rendell was asked if the Power were up there as contenders alongside the likes of the Cats, Swans, Demons, Tigers and Magpies.
“Absolutely they are,” Rendell replied.
“They’re way better (than 2022), especially if they can get (Orazio) Fantasia up there, that is a big if though.
“If they get Fantasia and (Junior) Rioli in there that’s a dangerous forward line, (Jason) Horne-Francis in the middle there.
“They’ve got plenty of players to replace (Karl) Amon, they’ve got a wealth of running backs who are beautiful kicks.”
Rendell does think one issue could arise in the Power’s push up the ladder and that is if Aliir Aliir goes down injured.
With their failed pursuit of Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea highlighting a lack of key defensive depth, Rendell called on the club to pick up a tall backman as a rookie or in the draft.
“The important one is they don’t want to lose Aliir Aliir, he is super important,” Rendell said.
“I don’t know if they can do anything at the Pre-Season Draft, do they take back (Sam) Skinner just in case? He’s 198cm, I don’t know.
“But they should be scouting far and wide to see if there’s a 198cm key back somewhere.”
With the trade period finished, Port Adelaide holds picks 33, 60 and 84 in this year’s National Draft.