HERE'S four things we learned from Port Adelaide's second SANFL trial game against West Adelaide on Friday night.
1. Slow starts won't cut it with Cornes
Port Adelaide got off to a sluggish start on Friday night and the new coach was unimpressed. The Bloods booted three unanswered goals as the Magpies struggled to make any real impact in attack.
Chad Cornes made it known he was not happy.
The Magpies responded well and, although it took time for his side to get into groove, it was near unstoppable when it did.
2. Polec is a class above when injury free
It's hard not to note Jared Polec's performance. The slick, hard-running midfielder was very close to his explosive best. Even with no official stats collected, he was clearly the Magpies' leading possession-getter - storming his way through packs and side-stepping those attempting to catch him.
3. Port Adelaide players love the party tricks
Not one, but two Magpies proved kicking goals from the boundary line when under pressure was a piece of cake.
First, it was Tom Gray who stole the limelight in the second quarter by juggling a bouncing football along the boundary, making a perfect pick-up and snapping it around his body for a goal.
Next it was Paul Stewart in the third quarter - with his opponent breathing down his neck - running hard on the trail of a bouncing football. He tapped the ball onto his advantage, managed to pick it up and snap a goal from the boundary.
Both shots would've been contenders for goal of the year if it was the actual season.
4. Young guns show promise
The Magpies had plenty of AFL experience against the Bloods, but those with less mileage showed they could compete too.
Robbie Young and Louis Sharrad were super strong in the midfield with their tackling and desperation and Cam Hewett - who kicked his first goal as a Port Adelaide player - and Dougal Howard provided targets up forward.
The backs can't be forgotten either, and, led by Alipate Carlile, Tom Corcoran and Darcy Byrne-Jones were instrumental.
Corcoran stood tall in full back and suffocated his opponent; Byrne-Jones' work across half back with his attack on the football and run-and-carry couldn't be faulted.
All signs for Port Adelaide's youth and contracted players were promising for Cornes, who will likely lose its mature AFL players in the coming weeks.
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