Port Adelaide's SANFL coach Garry Hocking believes his side still has what it takes to play in this year's grand final, despite Saturday night's heartbreaking 13-point loss to Norwood in the second semi final at the Adelaide Oval.
Norwood controlled the tempo in the first half, but the Magpies proved why it claimed the league's minor premiership, with a classy running attack from the centre in the third quarter.
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Hocking strategically pushed Nathan Krakouer from the forward line to defence and Jarman Impey into the midfield after half time and the plan seemed to work, along with improved tackle pressure and clearance work through the middle.
The Magpies came from 27 points behind at half time to boot five unanswered goals and claim a two goal lead at the final change.
But Hocking credited Norwood's experience playing on the big stage under real finals pressure for Port's eventual defeat.
The Magpies principal said his young finals group would learn from the loss and the experience would only make it more desperate to fight for next week's win in the preliminary final against South Adelaide.
"It's a young finals group apart from Summo [Steve Summerton] and Slats [Henry Slattery]," Hocking said after the game.
"But we've done a lot of things right [this year] and we secured the minor premiership, so we just have to get back to our best again.
"We are still good and we've still got it and it was a good opportunity for our players to play in that sort of finals atmosphere and understand the environment.
"We have another opportunity next week and although it would've been great to just roll into the grand final, we have some work to do and maybe that's a good thing."
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Port Adelaide will take on South Adelaide in a preliminary final at Adelaide Oval at 2:40pm on Sunday 14 September.
