IF SUNDAY night's incredible four point-win over St Kilda is anything to go by, the future at Port Adelaide is bright.
While the seasoned members of the Power's squad in Kane Cornes and Dom Cassisi were again outstanding, it was the younger players that look to have taken the next step.
Recruits Brad Ebert and John McCarthy showed why the Power were so keen to acquire their services, while Hamish Hartlett and debutants Jarrad Redden and Chad Wingard were ultra impressive.
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McCarthy managed a team high five inside-50s, while Ebert laid 11 tackles for the match.
Everything Hamish Hartlett touched turned to gold, and the budding star kicking a goal to go with his 26 disposals.
Defender Troy Chaplin said the performance of such players highlighted the feeling at Alberton that it didin't matter how much experience a player had, the expectation to perform remained the same.
"It's fantastic, it just goes to show that it doesn't matter who you are, you've got to perform week in week out and that's the competitive nature we've wanted to build," Chaplin told AFL.com.au.
"Guys like 'J Mac' (John McCarthy) and 'Ebo' (Brad Ebert) have had a massive impact on this group."
But it was the performances of the newest kids on the block, Jarrad Redden and Chad Wingard, that will have people talking this week.
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With Brent Renouf and Matthew Lobbe out injured, Redden has claimed the number one ruck spot over the pre-season and Chaplin singled out his 21 hitout performance as imperative in the win.
"Jarrad Redden was so good as well," Chaplin said.
"He's come from nowhere and it's just fantastic for him and his continued development.
"He was superb and against a quality ruckman…(Ben) McEvoy's been around for a while and it was brilliant to see 'Reddo' stand up and he got a helping hand from Daniel Stewart which is great."
Chaplin, who was amongst his side's best after holding Saint Nick Riewoldt, also heaped praise on 18-year-old Wingard, the Power's sixth pick at last year's NAB AFL Draft.
"He's going to be a star going forward and we're pretty happy to have him," he said.
"He's a South Australian boy and for a young kid to come in and have that sort of impact on the group is fantastic.
"I remember when we went on our camp to New Zealand he found it really tough, but he's grown as a kid and learnt a lot from that.
"His ability to win his own footy, his agility in the air is fantastic and he's going to be a very good player."
Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
Chad Wingard is a $157,200 midfielder in Toyota AFL Dream Team. Register your team here
