PORT ADELAIDE’s new defensive coach Tyson Goldsack is loving his new role and is particularly excited about the way some of his new recruits have fitted into the backline.

Goldsack was elevated from his development and SANFL coaching role at the end of last season and has set about implementing some minor tweaks to the way the side defends as a team.

He has taken on a backline which now includes more height and depth, thanks in part to the recruitment of Brandon Zerk-Thatcher from Essendon and Esava Ratugolea from Geelong, along with the return to fitness of Tom Clurey and Trent McKenzie.

Speaking on Friday after an intense open training session in front of around 1200 supporters at Alberton Oval, Goldsack said the new recruits will give the backline another dimension and present opportunities for other players to play other positions or use their personal weapons more.

He also discussed where he sees Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines lining up in 2024, the debate about how best to use Miles Bergman and just who will take kick-ins this season.

Tyson Goldsack on how new defenders Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea have settled in at Alberton:

“(They’re) already going really well. They kind of the suit our brand of football to begin with, we feel so they've actually slotted in nicely. And we're starting to get some match play now so we get a look at them in in real time and see how they operate with the other defenders.

“They don't mind playing a more attacking style so whether that's positioning, whether that's the freedom or confidence to go after the ball in the air. We feel we lacked that a little bit last year, so they give us that extra height. Their one-on-one stuff is good so when they're in a contest, and we've got some pretty tall forwards who are competitive, so they're holding their own, and some at the moment.”

Tyson Goldsack on Trent McKenzie’s return to full training after off-season surgery:

“He's gone well, he's just started doing full training now a couple of days ago which figures because we've got all the testing done. He's started feeling pretty good. He's got his brother's wedding at the moment so he wasn't there today but he's moving okay. It's a delayed start, but we know he can start performing in a pretty quick turnaround.”

Tyson Goldsack on why Tom Clurey has been spending time playing on the wing during pre-season:

“He's been playing genuine wing time through the pre-season. We thought he knows how to play defence, knows playing in our backline as a tall defender so we thought we'd give him the time to try out the wing and see if it works for him. And he's doing some good stuff up there.”

Tyson Goldsack on whether Ollie Wines will spend more time on the ball after period on the wing last season:

“That's the plan. We think he plays his best footy inside so he's been doing large chunks of inside mid time. If he has to chop out in the wing, as we call it, spend some wing time, then he'll do that. But at the moment, if we can prioritise inside mid and get that really sharp. I think it'd be better for us.”

Tyson Goldsack on whether Miles Bergman will play in defence or in the midfield in 2024:

“I'm pretty keen to keep Bergman in the backline. It was thrown up ‘oh we could…’ but I was like ‘no we can't, he's mine. And I'll keep him, thanks very much!’”

Tyson Goldsack on his new role as the assistant coach in charge of defence:

“It's exciting. It comes with its challenges, kind of trying to bring in a different form of defence, but, you know, tinkering with a couple of things. Trying to get the players to adapt always takes a bit of time with a little bit of teething. It's been a fairly heavy workload the first couple of weeks of this year, but I love it.

“I think our backline is in a good position, but our team defence, everyone's buying in the way they should be at this time of year, so I think we're getting some shifts where we need them."

Tyson Goldsack on who will take the kick-ins this season:

“It's a race to get the ball at the moment. We’ve got Farrell, Burton and Houston there, we know Trent (McKenzie) can handle it as well. But they’re our three and they're all pretty happy to take responsibility and share it too. We don't want to waste 50 metres of energy. If you're outside 50 getting back to take the ball so we've got good enough ball users to share the load.”