FB: Jacob Surjan, Alipate Carlile, Troy Chaplin
HB: Hamish Hartlett, Jackson Trengove, Ben Jacobs
C: Danyle Pearce, Kane Cornes, Steven Salopek
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Daniel Motlop
FF: Daniel Stewart, Jay Schulz, Brett Ebert
FOLL: Dean Brogan, Dom Cassisi, Travis Boak
I/C: Matt Thomas, David Rodan, Paul Stewart
SUB: Chad Cornes
Injury list
Ben Jacobs (glandular fever) - indefinite
Matthew Lobbe (dislocated shoulder) - 8-9 weeks
Andrew Moore (groin) - ongoing assessment
Ben Newton (ankle) - ongoing assessment
Simon Phillips (jaw) - 4-5 weeks
Matt Thomas (foot) - available
View the latest injury news here
Most valuable player
Dean Brogan isn't Port Adelaide's best player, but he's the player the club can least afford to lose. Brogan is the only experienced ruckman on the Power's list and is likely to carry the majority of the ruck duties again this season, with support from tall forward Daniel Stewart.
Track specialist
Skilful forward Robbie Gray had a breakout season in 2009, playing 20 games and kicking 30 goals but struggled to back up last year because of a hamstring/back complaint. Gray is on the verge of completing the best pre-season of his career and only needs a better run with injury to establish himself as an elite player in the competition.
Dream Team special
As is the case with Gray, there's an element of risk in selecting injury-prone midfielder Hamish Hartlett in your Dream Team, but as they say, without risk there can be no reward. Hartlett ($262,400) averaged 79 points in the four games he played last season and will be a star as soon as his body allows him.
Pivotal match See the full Port fixture here
The Power have a tough opening month, with games against the premiers of the past two seasons, Collingwood and Geelong, as well as a Showdown against Adelaide. Port Adelaide hosts last year's wooden-spooners West Coast in round two and this game is a must-win, if the club is to return to the top eight this season.
Draftee watch
With Matthew Lobbe on the long-term injury list, rookie Jarrad Irons is poised to be elevated to the senior list as early as this week. The 18-year-old midfielder has played in all of the Power's pre-season games and could be a surprise selection for round one.
The Power will have a good year if …
… they improve their disposal efficiency and stop leaking goals from the centre clearances. The Power ranked last in the competition in kicking efficiency inside defensive 50m last season and also struggled to convert turnovers they created in their forward line. They will also need to improve their defensive pressure in line with the 'press' phenomenon sweeping the league.
The big issues
Can the Power kick enough goals to match it with the better sides in the competition? Warren Tredrea is gone and his long-term replacement, John Butcher, isn't ready. Ex-Richmond utility Jay Schulz will be the man leading the goalkicking charge and the club will also need solid seasons from Daniel Motlop and Justin Westhoff.
Will Gray and Hartlett hold up? The Power won both games last season when the star onballers played together and the pair's continued fitness is a key to the club's finals aspirations.
Will the appointment of Matthew Primus and the merger with Port Magpies boost Port Adelaide's home attendances? The Power were the least-watched team in the AFL in terms of crowds last season and need more support on game day to help turn their finances around.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
