Lade, 32, played just 17 games last year - his fewest in a single season since 2002 - as both he and the Power struggled to back up a scintillating 2007.
The premiership veteran was dropped to SANFL club South Adelaide for five weeks mid-season to regain some touch while the club experimented with youth.
Lade said the whole experience had served as motivation for this pre-season.
“Unfortunately, a lot of our senior players, who probably had career-best years in 2007, we didn’t step up last year and I was definitely one of them,” Lade said.
“I’m very happy to put my hand up and say that I was one of the guys that didn’t perform last year and I’m really looking to turn things around.”
Lade was replaced in the Power line up by young ruckman Fabian Deluca, who was delisted at season’s end.
But instead of being bitter about his demotion, Lade said he would support the club if it opted to go down the same path again.
“In the end you’d probably say no, the exercise [of playing Deluca] wasn’t worth it because he was delisted, but the club has to do that,” he said.
“No one is going to be at the club playing footy forever, so you have to see what the young guys can do, especially when the club’s not going well.
“If I were coach, I probably would’ve done the same thing.”
The Kangaroo Island native dominated in the SANFL and was recalled to the Port Adelaide side in round 20.
Lade picked up 22 touches and 35 hit-outs in a near best on ground performance against Collingwood and has taken that momentum into the summer.
While former captain Warren Tredrea has been eased through parts of the pre-season, Lade has taken on a greater workload than expected and forged a strong relationship with new fitness coach Cameron Falloon.
“Cam and I are pretty close and we work well together. Hopefully, through the understanding we have, he can take me to the next level again and get me back to somewhere near that [All-Australian] form of 2007-08,” Lade said.
“The pre-season has been pretty tough. It probably takes us back to a couple of years ago when [former fitness coach] Darren Burgess started smashing us.
“Cam has taken everyone to a new level and, hopefully that comes across on the field when we start playing as there’s no point doing all this work if you’re not winning.”
The Power might’ve farewelled Deluca, but there are several more youngsters waiting for an opportunity in the ruck at Alberton.
Although Lade said he would return to the Panthers again if it were in the club’s best interest, he was determined not to give any of the emerging talls a sniff this season.
“If we’re winning I don’t think the club will be trying young guys. If we can’t make the finals or have a terrible start to the year, then yes, the club will probably look at doing that again- whether it’s myself or Dean that sits out - if we’re not playing well, then the club needs to start developing guys for the next generation,” Lade said.
“It’s something we’re aware of and it’s one of the reasons why Broges and I want to get a good start to the year because if we play well, it means we’re winning.
“It also means the young guys won’t get an opportunity, but I daresay our supporters would rather see us winning than losing and playing kids.”
