portadelaidefc.com.au has taken out its crystal ball to predict Port Adelaide’s team to face St Kilda in Round 1, 2016 at Adelaide Oval.

Possible Port Adelaide AFL team, Round 1, 2016
FB: Matthew Broadbent, Alipate Carlile, Tom Jonas
HB: Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove, Jack Hombsch
C: Brad Ebert, Travis Boak, Hamish Hartlett
HF: Justin Westhoff, Charlie Dixon, Matt White
FF: Angus Monfries, Jay Schulz, Chad Wingard
Ruck: Paddy Ryder, Ollie Wines, Robbie Gray
I/C: Jared Polec, Matt Lobbe, Sam Gray, Jarman Impey
Emg: Jake Neade, Brendon Ah Chee, Aaron Young

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The backs
It’s familiar faces all round in defence. Alipate Carlile and Jackson Trengove take up the key posts of full back and centre half back – and are probably two of the first names on the team sheet each week.

If it’s possible to have two breakout years, Jack Hombsch did it. After an outstanding year in 2014 where he played 24 of 25 games, Hombsch was ultra-consistent in 2015 – filling in for Carlile and Trengove in the key defensive posts when required and was just as comfortable as the third tall.

A dip in confidence hurt the form of Tom Jonas mid-year in 2015. But being the professional he is, he fought back through good form in the SANFL to play in the final four AFL games of the season – which were all wins – and he started to look like the player he was in 2014 again.

Still under-rated by many and sometimes unfairly criticised, Jasper Pittard is one of the key cogs in this defensive unit. His ability to run and create off half-back is vitally important for the Power. He’s ably supported by the raking right boot of Matt Broadbent, who despite a slight dip in form in 2015, has become a solid and consistent contributor to the back six. Jarman Impey comes off the bench to take the opposition’s best small forward and add more run.

The back six could be seen as slightly top-heavy with four ‘talls’, which wasn’t so much of an issue in 2015, but with the arrival of Charlie Dixon, the added height across the field may mean Ken Hinkley opts for a different set-up down back – which may come down to match-ups each week.

Expect to see the likes of Hamish Hartlett or Nathan Krakouer spending time back there over the course of the season.

The next in line in defence: Cam O’Shea, Tom Clurey, Nathan Krakouer, Logan Austin

The mids
A strength for Port Adelaide in the outstanding 2014 season where the club made the Preliminary Final.

Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Brad Ebert and Hamish Hartlett are all in the prime of their careers and have shown real consistency over the past three seasons – with Boak and Gray both earning two All-Australian selections over that period.

Add to that the big-bodied Ollie Wines who continues to develop his game and the pinch-hitting Chad Wingard, and the midfield depth is starting to look strong.

Jared Polec, Matt White and Sam Gray will also rotate through to add run-and-carry.

The big question will be whether Port Adelaide goes with a two-ruck structure - with Paddy Ryder and Matt Lobbe – or play just one ruck, with Dixon, Trengove and Westhoff supporting.

With the sub rule now gone, the possibility of playing two ruckmen becomes more realistic. The Ryder and Lobbe combination worked well in early season games against Hawthorn and Adelaide, but as mentioned above with the defenders, the addition of Dixon means the balance of the team may be considered too tall.

Expect Ah Chee, Young and Toumpas to be pushing for selection very early in 2016.

The next in line in midfield: Brendon Ah Chee, Aaron Young, Jimmy Toumpas, Sam Colquhoun, Kane Mitchell

The forwards
The Power’s 2016 forward set-up is headlined by new recruit Charlie Dixon, who is likely to line up at centre half forward. He’ll be supported by the Power’s four-time leading goalkicker Jay Schulz and the versatile Justin Westhoff. Dixon’s arrival may leave Westhoff free to roam much further up the ground at times.

The mercurial Chad Wingard – who led the Power’s goalkicking in 2015 – will again spend plenty of time up forward, with a pinch-hitting role in midfield. Matt White will add pace on a half-forward flank while Angus Monfries will likely continue his role as a defensive forward.

Next in line up forward: Jake Neade, Paul Stewart, Karl Amon, John Butcher, Jesse Palmer

Could Chad miss the start of pre-season training?