“Where do Port go to from here, and how do they get better”.

Now the anger is subsiding for Port fans following their disastrous 71-point car crash Preliminary Final, the next question that must be asked is “where do we go to from here, and how do we get better”.

It’s not a question that's easily answered.

After last year’s preliminary final loss to eventual Premier Richmond by 6 points, the focus was clear, Port had glaring issues with their list that needed to be fixed.

Enter Port’s gun list manager Jason Cripps and recruiting manager Geoff Parker.

No sooner had the trade window closed Port Adelaide had acquired the two key focusses of the trade a period, a key defender in Aliir Aliir from Sydney and a small forward in Essendon’s Orazio Fantasia.

Both were overwhelming successes in 2021, Aliir was named All Australian Centre half back and Fantasia kicking 28 goals in 15 games, it would have been more had it not been for mid-season knee surgery.

Throw in the recruitment of academy young gun Lachie Jones and Port had ticked three very important list replenishing boxes.

Fast forward 12 months and the same questions – how do we get better?

Last Saturday’s horror prelim final identified once again Port Adelaide midfield is too similar – Brownlow favorite Ollie Wines, Travis Boak, Wilem Drew and Sam Powell Pepper all tough as nails but lack poise and precision with their disposal under pressure.

Something Grand Finalist Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs possess in abundance.

And if you take a closer look at the clubs list dynamics you soon realise, they have five players in the ilk of Boak, Gray, Jonas, Motlop and Dixon who are already into their 30’s, while Trent McKenzie turns 30 early next year. 

They also possess young guns in Connor Rozee, Zak Butter, Xavier Duursma, Miles Bergmann and Lachie Jones.

But they don't have not enough key players in the 24-28year age bracket who dominate the competition week in week out – except for Ollie Wines, Karl Amon and Aliir Aliir.

Because of this, it puts an unhealthy strain on the 30+ to carry the load with the game’s demands constantly increasing.

In comparison, Grand finalist Melbourne’s best players are in the 24- 28 age bracket, stars of the competition Petracca, Oliver, Lever, Langdon, Salem, Viney, Brayshaw and Fritsch are all in career best form.

Their opponents the Western Bulldogs are also blessed with Bontempelli, MacCrae, Dale, Daniel, Dunkley, Dale, Hunter and Treloar.

These list dynamics require Port to reboot once again on the run.

Jordan Dawson has had interviewed and undergone a medical at both Adelaide clubs over the past few days, and he’s expected to finalise his decision of where he wants to play over the weekend.

The silky left footer, finished third in Sydney’s best and fairest in 2021 and the Swans are fifthly to be losing him. He’s a star on the rise and sits comfortably in the perfect age demographic at 24, with huge upside.

Aside from list managements acquisitions and departures, for Port to fly, they must put the acid on their young guns of Butter, Rozee and co to get better and challenge them to become fitter over the break and dangle a carrot of guaranteed midfield time. 

Much like what Richmond did with Dustin Martin and more recently what Melbourne have done with Christian Petracca, when they went from inconsistent bit part role players to game breaking superstars of the competition.

To be fair Zac Butters was well on his way after an electric start to 2021 before he was struck down with the dreaded syndesmosis ankle sprain injury which resulted in nerve complications.

We can’t see Butters and Rozee wasted as half forward flankers when they have the attributes and game breaking ability to play and develop as superstar midfielders of the future.

Dan Houston must also be re-assigned into the midfield rotation. Only two years ago he excelled in the role when injuries struck, Port can do with his run, carry and elite execution by foot.

There is also early draft pick Jackson Mead who remains untried at the senior level after serious injuries and Dylan Williams who has had a taste of the big time.

Unfortunately for every player that comes in others must fall out. 

And great a warrior as Travis Boak has been over 300 games, I can see him adopting a similar role to how Shane Crawford was used by Hawthorn by coach Alistair Clarkson in the final years of his career. 

Boak must be moved out of the centre square to create space for others to flourish and be re-aligned as a high half forward/wingman or even in a run with role.

It doesn’t sound sexy, but a bold move like this could be the moment when ports talented kids emerged from the shadows of superstars Robbie Gray, Travis Boak and makes them even stronger.

Footy boss Chris Davies, List manager Jason Cripps and Recruiter Geoff Parker have made the right calls at the right time in the past and the power faithful must let them go to work again.

Much like they did last year, Ports list bosses were able to successfully acquire Aliir, Fantasia, Jones and co whilst also reducing the average age of the Preliminary final team from 28.4 years of age in 2020 to 23.2 years of age in 2021.

The retirements of 2020 club’s stalwarts Brad Ebert and Justin Westhoff have already been followed by Tom Rockliff hanging up his boots in 2021 and leadership member Hamish Hartlett was told on Monday his contract wouldn’t be renewed.

Tough calls are often unpopular but must be made.

If Port can restock their list with a couple of other gems over the next month all the while reducing their list age demographics.

Who knows they could go one better in 2022.