PORT ADELAIDE captain Connor Rozee says his group is focused on winning every game now, no matter who the opponent is. 

The rivalry between the two South Australian teams is as strong as ever, but the Power will be driven this Saturday night by the desire to journey deep into September. 

Rozee spoke to the Adelaide media on Wednesday about the Showdown, his group’s goals for the rest of the season, and on his own growth as captain this year. 

Rozee on turning around the recent record against Adelaide 
“It’s a good question, we're really excited for this week. Obviously, they've had the better of us in the last couple of Showdowns, and the boys are really excited to hopefully swing it back in our favour. I think they're one in front overall in the Showdowns. But for us, it's putting ourselves in a position for the rest of the year, and doesn't matter who we come up against these next couple of games, we've said from the start of the season that we want to make finals and go deep into finals, so this is good preparation for us, and another game that we definitely want to win.” 

Rozee on the rivalry 
“Yeah, there's clearly some rivalry in wanting to beat the side that's across town. But like I said, we've got some really ambitious goals this season, and that's to go deep into finals. So these last two games are really important for us to set up where we finish on the ladder. We know how close it is at the moment. And as I said before, it doesn't matter who that team is across from us for the next two games, we've got to bring our attitude that we've had for the last month or so and put ourselves in a position to hopefully achieve what we want to.” 

Rozee on how Adelaide’s style of play
“They're really strong around the ball. They play a really high-pressure brand of football, and probably got too many easy goals against us last time out the back with their speed, with their forwards. So like you said, we've taken a big step the last month or so with our contest and our football, and our midfielders in general, have taken a big step, I think, sort of identified what makes us a good side, which is our contest and our pressure. And that's pretty similar to the Crows. So yeah, you can probably expect a pretty contested game.” 

Rozee on Port Adelaide’s current form 
“We’re really proud of our last month of, I guess, the sides we've come up against are definitely no easy beats, and they've been up there through the best part of this season, Sydney and Carlton and Melbourne, and I feel like things are starting to click. And as I said just before, we've sort of figured out what our best brand of football is, and how we can get the best out of our core group. We've been pretty fortunate with injuries and that sort of sort of stuff. And sometimes it can come down to peaking at the right time. So hopefully we can keep this momentum going.” 

Rozee on Darcy Fogarty’s comments about the Crows ‘ruining’ Port’s party 
“Not really (fazed), to be honest, I'm excited for this week. The rivalry is what it is. We're excited to go up against the Crows, no matter when it is in the season or whose record is where it is. So we're just excited to get out there and play, and as I said before, to set up our season, hopefully for some bigger goals.” 

Rozee on rebounding from a patch of losses 
“Yeah, it's a good question. I think that's the challenge is, we probably were never really out of it, sitting, you know, ninth or 10th and only a couple of games out of the top four. But it probably felt externally like things were crashing down a bit. But I think we made sort of a decision internally, that that was going to be our bottom out. We didn't it didn't have to take until the end of the season, in end of year reviews for us to figure out that we need to turn things around. And I think we took a massive step internally and personally, I think everyone sort of took a little bit more leadership and there's been some individuals that have taken massive steps individually, but the group, as a whole, I think we're in a position now where anything's possible when we never really felt like we were out of it. But I guess from the outside, sometimes it can feel like that.” 

Rozee on learning about strong leadership through hard times 
“Yeah, it's a challenge, definitely, especially when people aren't probably playing the way they would have liked, and as a team, we weren't consistently coming out and playing the same brand of football every week. So some conversations need to be had, really, with individuals and as a group, as a whole. And as I touched on before, we sort of sat down and said, like, this is this is going to be it, and what can we do to get back to playing fun football, really. We sort of lost a little bit of our connection on the ground a bit. And since we've got that back, I think that's built the rest of our game, our pressure in our contest.” 

Rozee on the side’s attitude going into the Showdown  
“I think clearly, we're really excited, because there is a rivalry there. We're not just going to discount the fact that we want to beat them because of the history of the two clubs. But I think, as I've said a few times now, we've got some bigger goals, and that's this year to come in and win a premiership. And fortunately, we’ve put ourselves in a position where we can finish in the top four or top two, and no matter who that side is, at the end of the day, we want to go out there and beat them. So I'm sure everyone's really excited to play the Crows, and the atmosphere is always great, but at the end of the day, our main goal is put ourselves in a position to go deep into finals. 

“We feel like now we know what makes us a good side, and I think that's the challenge for a lot of sides. Throughout the season, you can sort of fluctuate depending on who you play and people that come in out of the team a little bit. We've had a pretty consistent group now for bit over a month now, and we've sort of figured out what makes us tick. So it's the challenge of AFL footballers to be consistent. Fortunately, we're probably peaking at the right time, and the challenge now is to finish off the regular season the right way and give ourselves the best opportunity.” 

Rozee on his growth as captain since the last Showdown 
“Yeah, it was a bit of a frustrating time. I've never really dealt with many injuries throughout my career, to be honest. So I was probably a little bit inexperienced in how to approach that week, I really wanted to play, so I probably took it upon myself to sort of push myself out there when maybe I wasn't 100 per cent ready to go, even though I sort of talked myself into it a little bit. So, yeah, I mean, that's footy, I think I've learned a lot of a lot from having that experience and sort of making sure that I don't push myself too far when I can't perform to my ability, and then it affects the team. So yeah, hopefully that helps me going forward.” 

Rozee on the increased vulnerability as a playing group 
“Yeah, 100 per cent and not just me, but the whole group in general. I think some of the people in our team have sort of taken a step back and actually looked at what's going on from an outside point of view of what they actually need to get better at, instead of going internal and accepting things for what they are. Our side has come a long way in terms of our vulnerability. And I think myself, personally, I think I've learned a lot throughout this season, and I think that's a big part of being a leader nowadays, is being vulnerable in front of the group. And no one's perfect at the end of the day, I'm going to make mistakes as much as anyone, but I'm out there to make our group as good as they can be. So yeah, hopefully that is a good example for our younger players as well, coming through.” 

Rozee on Mitch Georgiades’ injury 
“Yeah, it's a slightly different injury (to mine earlier in the year), so you've got to approach every injury slightly differently. I think the plan is for him to do some sort of training tonight and see how it goes. I'm sure they won't be pushing him out there if he's not 100 per cent.” 

Rozee on being an advocate for players to come to Port Adelaide 
“There are lots of people out there. It doesn't matter who it is, but we want to get better every year and that includes going pretty hard through trade period, which we have done the last few years, and the draft. So, yeah, an important part of our side is getting people from interstate, and we've got a really good retention rate when we get people to come to our club. And that'll be no different this year. I'm sure there'll be some sort of movement, whether that's us or other clubs. So there'll definitely be some conversations to be had.” 

Rozee on Alex Neal-Bullen’s trade request to come home to SA 
“I only saw that probably half an hour ago, so not sure exactly what that means. I'm sure he'd love to get home to his family, but I'll leave that up to the to the staff in the club.” 

Rozee on good mate Jack Lukosius 
“We speak almost every day, so not specifically about the situation, but he's going okay. Yeah, I might have to do some convincing to do. I'm sure (if) he'd love to come home, because he’s South Australian, but again, there's a lot to play out, and it's a very personal decision. I think he's a great player. And I mean, you see it throughout every club. People go through patches where they're not playing their best footy and fall into the other side. But he's great player, and he will wait for the next 10, 15 years I’m sure.”