PORT ADELAIDE has welcomed back experience for its ‘free swing’ at undefeated Glenelg in the final game of the SANFL home and away season.
Matthew Lokan’s side sits seventh on the ladder, percentage and a win outside the top five.
It would require results and a percentage swing to compete in finals action, and with it highly unlikely, Lokan says it will be disappointing to miss out.
“Obviously, we set out at the start of the season to play finals and looks like we're not going to be able to achieve that,” he said.
“We're certainly disappointed with the way that we played.
“There were a few reasons why we perhaps didn't and at times we weren't perhaps good enough.
“We feel like we're heading in the right direction, we’ve played well, some guys have had some good seasons and it's nice to get another opportunity to play against the best team on Saturday and hopefully have a good win to finish up the season.
“We've got a free swing at the best team in the competition.”
The Magpies kept themselves mathematically in the hunt with a stunning 13-point victory over South Adelaide a fortnight ago.
“I thought we were great against South, I thought it was one of our best games of the year,” Lokan said.
“We get an opportunity to be able to do that again against a good side in Glenelg.
“It's exciting that we get to play against the best side and really test ourselves in the last game of the season.”
Port Adelaide fell short by 10 points in its last encounter with Glenelg and Lokan is eager to see his men compete hard once again.
“We know that if we play our best and we play four quarters, we can certainly compete with anyone and we did that against them the first time,” he said.
“We weren't quite good enough to get the result there, but we certainly showed that we were competitive and that we can compete.”
A wealth of AFL experience comes into the Port Adelaide line-up for the clash with the Tigers and Lokan is pleased to have some experience in the side.
“We're fortunate to be able to get a few of the AFL guys back. Sam Mayes and Jarrod Lienert missed against South, Mitch Georgiades and Sam Powell-Pepper will play as well,” he said.
“To be able to have some experience back in the team will certainly help.”
Port Adelaide’s clash with Glenelg gets underway at 2.10pm at Alberton Oval.
