PORT ADELAIDE captain Connor Rozee says he felt immense disappointment following the Preliminary Final loss on Friday night, but he’s proud of what his group has achieved in 2024.
The Power brought solid contest and pressure, but minor premiers Sydney were able to execute more efficiently, making the most of their chances in front of goals.
Arriving back in Adelaide on Saturday morning, Rozee spoke to the Adelaide media on the feeling following the match, how Sydney managed to get on top, the season as a whole.
Rozee on the Preliminary Final loss
“It’s certainly disappointing. Felt like we had a great opportunity to put ourselves into a Grand Final. A lot of credit to Sydney. They've been the best team and the side to beat for the most part of this year. They played some great football last night. They were clinical in front of goals and we probably weren't. So, yeah, it's certainly disappointing, but I'm really proud of how our group kept showing up.”
Rozee on how Sydney got on top
“What we have been challenging ourselves a bit on recently has been our contest and effort. And I think that was certainly there. You look at the numbers and stoppages and contested football, and we were right there with them for the most part of the game. Probably going forward, we weren't quite as efficient as them going inside our forward line, and they rebounded really well and scored really well at turnover, which they have all year. They're a great side, and they've got some real weapons in their team. And like I said before, they were extremely efficient, which makes it hard to stop sometimes.”
Rozee on his message to players post-game
“Yeah, it's certainly a balance of disappointment, but also for me, personally, it's how proud I was of the group. We had some really challenging moments throughout this year where we got challenged from the outside and internally as well. When I was able to ask more from certain people and get that from them, and even the Hawthorn game, a lot of people counted us out, but we were able to show up with a great attitude and effort. And as I said before, we didn't quite get there last night, but our effort and intensity was right there and we’re still a young side that's getting better every year. So we'll look to get back and give ourselves the same opportunity again next year.”
Rozee on his own form through finals
“Yeah, I thought it went okay. The Geelong game probably didn't go as I would have liked, personally and as a team. We didn't have a great game, that was pretty clear. I feel like my last two games, I brought a really good intensity, and I guess probably just tried to show a bit more leadership out in the field with my personal performance. And yeah, finals games are tough. You're probably not going to have the same sort of statistics that you do during the year with the touches and that sort of stuff that you get. But yeah, for me personally, it was just bringing that effort and intensity and trying to lead the way.”
Rozee on the hours following the game
“I actually had to do a drug test, so I was at the ground for a couple of hours, which was a little bit annoying, but most of the boys headed back to the hotel and spent some time together.”
Rozee on coming to terms with the season being over
“Yeah, it's the harsh reality of AFL football unfortunately. There are 14 other teams that would have killed to have been where we were last night and had that opportunity. We fought really hard all year to get to that spot. Like you said, it ends just like that. And now we're in off-season, we were one game away from a Grand Final and giving ourselves a great opportunity to do something really special. And yeah, it probably just puts that fire in your belly again for next year to come back in great condition and have another crack at it.”
Rozee on the upcoming draft and trade period
“I'm not sure specifically what sort of positions we'll be going for exactly, but I've got no doubt we've got a great team at Port Adelaide, and we've recruited extremely well over the last few years, not only in the draft, but trade period as well. So yeah, no doubt we’ll probably be active and always looking to get better. And I guess have spots that are up for grabs all the time. That's the only way to get better is having people challenging for spots all the time.”
Rozee on Travis Boak and Charlie Dixon
“I’ve just got so much respect and love for those two boys, especially because they've done an enormous amount for our football club. Boaky especially, he’s been here since his day one. And yeah, whatever ends up happening with their future, whether or not they play on or not, they'll no doubt go down as some of our great players from the football club, not only as players, but as people. They’ve been enormous for myself, personally, but also a club as a whole.”
Rozee on how he feels following the loss
‘Yeah, that's final football really. You're going to have ups and downs. And as I said before, I think the proud thing for me was how we responded, especially after the Geelong game. It could have been easy for us to, I guess, turn up and not bring the right intensity and effort. And yeah, fortunately, we came in and we had a really good performance. There are ups and downs throughout the course of a whole season. And yeah, it is emotionally exhausting sometimes, but that's part of the job.”
Rozee on the season as a whole
“Success is a hard word to define in AFL terms. I think some people only see a premiership as a success. But for me, personally, I think our team is getting better every year. We're so young, and I'm proud that we were able to get to another prelim final, and no doubt we're only going to get better with the age of our group at the moment and the attitude as well that we've brought throughout pre-season and the last couple of years. So yeah, I would say it's probably more just proud that we've gotten to this point, but also so driven to get back here and give ourselves another shot at it.”
Rozee on the side not winning a prelim in the last few years
“Yeah, there's a little bit of frustration to it. But, I mean, you look at this side from a few years ago, I think more than half of our side is completely different. So I don't think it's a Port Adelaide thing to get into prelims (and lose them). You know, a lot of sides get to prelims and don't quite get there. The fact that we're getting there, I think, is the good thing, we’re giving ourselves the opportunity to get into a Grand Final. As I said before, there's a lot of sides that would kill to have that opportunity, and as long as we just keep turning up with the right attitude and effort, I'm sure we'll get there one day.”
Rozee on Ken Hinkley’s messaging after the game
“Yeah, it's a bit of what I said before, a balance between the disappointment of not quite getting there and being beaten by a better side on the night and then also the summary of the season and the reality that, you know, we didn't quite get where we wanted to be, but really proud of what we were as a football club and how we responded to some really high challenges throughout the year.”
Rozee on his plans following the season
“I'm actually getting married in about a month, so I'm sure that'll probably take up a fair bit of my time in the next few weeks and then we'll head away for a little honeymoon for a small trip after that, but pretty keen to get back home and see the little one.”
Rozee on his respect for Ken Hinkley
“Yeah, enormous respect and admiration for Kenny. He's done so much for our football club. And, yeah, it's hard to put into words, I guess, without seeing from the inside what he does on a day to day. He does so much work, he's first into the club every morning and the last person to leave. He wants more than anyone, to bring success to our club, and that's why we love him so much. To see that he's emotionally driven to bring us success, and that probably came out the last couple of weeks, but I've got no doubt that our group's behind him, and he's doing something right to get us into – I’ve played in three prelims now – and yeah, certainly we will hopefully put ourselves in this position again to do it for him, I guess a little bit, and also for some of our older guys have been around for a while.”
