PORT ADELAIDE has identified improving its ball movement and ability to half opposition momentum as key areas for improvement at the mid-point of the season.

Players and coaches have returned to the club following a four-day break as the club enters the AFL bye this weekend.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, General Manager – Football, Chris Davies, says there is a good energy at Alberton following the break, with players and coaches reflecting on the club’s position halfway through the season.

He explained that while there are definite areas for improvement, having eight wins after 12 games has given the club a solid platform to build upon in the back end of the season.

In a lengthy and wide-ranging press conference, Davies discussed Charlie Dixon’s form, Travis Boak’s future, competitive balance in the AFL and the recent change to the holding the ball rule.

Chris Davies on how the club has reviewed the first half of the AFL season

“We certainly came back with an energy for the second half of the year. There are some clear things that we think we need to get right in the back half (of the year). But at the same time, I think it's worthwhile reflecting on the fact that, eight (wins) and four (losses) is not a bad platform to actually work from. You can't win the flag in June but you certainly can put yourself out of contention. And right now, we're well and truly still in contention.

“Certainly, the way that we move the ball around the field is something that we need to continually work on. It’s something that our forwards are going to require in order for us to be successful at the end of the year. Some of our ability to stop momentum is something that we also need to consider, when you're looking at the last quarter of last week.”

Chris Davies on mid-season commentary around where the club is placed

“I can't imagine that too many people would have had us in the position that we are we are. We’ve beaten the team above us. We've been a couple of teams below us. We've got clear things that we need to get better at. But this whole idea that week to week, you're in a situation where either good or bad is not quite the case in sport. And some of the people that have been in sport who talk that way need, in my opinion, to have a look at themselves. But that's not necessarily for me to concern myself with, we've got things that we need to be better at that we know.

“At the end of the day, the minor round is put in place in order for you to qualify for the finals in the best possible case. We've had situations where we've qualified really high at the end of the minor round, and haven't been in great shape to go into the finals. I think as much as anything right now, we're still thinking that we need to qualify for the finals, we've put ourselves in a really good spot. But most importantly, teams need to be hitting their straps come the end of the year, not at the mid-season bye so we've got some things that we need to work on and get better at. And hopefully we can do that with the end of the year in mind.”

Chris Davies on the side being 8-4 at the mid-season bye

“I understand that the expectation on us is reasonably high. And you know, that's not a bad thing to have as a club. People right now maybe feel a bit negative on us being eight and four but I'd far rather have that expectation as a club than not. From my perspective, I'm pretty comfortable that we're still in the chase. We've got some clear things that we need to be better at and I'd far rather be eight and four than in a situation where we're chasing our tails.”

Chris Davies on Charlie Dixon’s mid-season form

“Charlie's in a bit of a battle right now with his form and with his body as well. I think the coaches have got some decisions to make with the way that we handle Charlie and manage Charlie over the next period of time. But to be fair, he would be the first person right now to suggest that his form maybe hasn't been at the level that he wants it. But as I mentioned earlier with questioning, ultimately, our ball movement probably needs to be better in order to help him as well. So that's one of the challenges we've got.”

Chris Davies on Ollie Lord’s return to the field following a pre-season leg injury

“Ollie is a guy who I think probably would have started in the AFL team if he was fit at the start of the year. And it probably would have been Jeremy who missed out at the start of the year, to be honest, but I reckon he's probably a week away from being seriously up for selection. And I think he'll add something different as well to that young forward mix if we decide to pick him.”

Chris Davies on the review of the decision for Connor Rozee to return from his hamstring injury earlier this season

“We did that pretty quickly after. If we had our time, again, clearly, we would do things differently. But, you know, the return to play protocols that Connor followed were the return to play protocols that the club had had for a long period of time with hamstring injuries. Our medical team make decisions on those types of things regularly, many you don't see. As I said at the time, they got that wrong. We wish we had it back. But equally, the challenge with that is also to not get gun shy with players after you make a poor decision. It's not to compound that with poor decisions after.”

Chris Davies on competitive balance in the AFL, including the club’s push for participation in a National Reserves competition

“I'm not sure it's a pursuit as much as a philosophical position that we have with the AFL to say that we think as they ask clubs about equalization, that they have a responsibility to look at the national reserves as a philosophy. And that's something that this club is not going to resile from, whether the AFL want that or not. Our position is that, you know, through competitive balance, the AFL have a responsibility to look at the way that second tier competitions around Australia are put together. And that will continue to be what we have a view on.

“We are contracted to play in the SANFL until 2028. And the reality is, is that unless the AFL are able to sort something out, that that will be the case. But we do believe that the AFL have a responsibility to look at it. Our position right now is that we want the AFL to look at a national competition. They asked all of the clubs for feedback on competitive balance. And that was one that 17 of the 18 clubs are absolutely supportive of and we think is a fundamental part of competitive balance. So, if the AFL didn't go that down that path, my view is they want to have a really good reason.

“Our SANFL team is not going great at the moment. I would say that I'm sure if you look back, what I've said this year is not the first time I've been saying these things. So maybe we're seeing the culmination of years worth of concern actually getting into a situation right now where you're actually seeing it. And I think there's no way that you could honestly say that being in a competition where you're that far bottom, and that's not just us, that's Adelaide as well, I mean, Adelaide are a bit better than us, they obviously beat us and so that's one of the two or three wins for the year but it's not great for our guys to be going into games week in week out, not looking like they're going to be able to win. Winning is not our sole focus, but equally, we want them to be competitive so that'll be a challenge for us.”

Chris Davies on when discussions will be had with Travis Boak regarding his playing future

“I think we'll wait until the end of the year, much like we did last year with Travis understanding that players at his age generally are only signing year on year deals. I mean, there's no pressure from the club to hurry to retire Travis. But equally, he would, I'm sure, want to be playing good enough footy to continue to play into the future. Right now he’s been pretty well performed this year so we won't have those discussions in the next month or so. And I'm sure that, you know, as much as anything will be guided by Travis. But equally, you know, part of what Travis requires is honesty from some people here as well as to the way that we see him going. Again, that's not the type of decision that you need to make at the midpoint (of the season).

Chris Davies on the recent changes to the holding the ball rule

“I think that there are probably many better people to talk about the specifics of holding the ball. I think, from my perspective, the challenge that the AFL have got is when they make decisions based on public furor at a particular point in time, you actually leave yourself open to the public being really angry at different decisions and thinking that they're going to be able to make changes - and when I say public, that's also the clubs. I actually think it's dangerous. I'm not sure it's an overly good thing to be making changes mid-year. I think our club’s perspective is if you're going to make those types of changes, then make them in the fullness of time rather than when you're halfway through a year.”