PORT ADELAIDE assistant coach Josh Carr is not expecting debutant Christian Moraes to be overawed by making his first appearance at the top level when the Power hosts Richmond on Saturday.

Moraes will become the club’s second debutant in as many weeks, following Joe Berry’s first game in Round 1.

Carr works closely with Moraes, who plays primarily on the wing or at half forward, and speaking with Adelaide media on Friday the coach described his desire to learn and improve.

Carr also spoke about Jeremy Finlayson going out of the side and how Travis Boak’s role has changed in the absence of Zak Butters.

Josh Carr on moving on from Round 1 and being ready to face Richmond on Saturday:

“That's our job as coaches and as players as well, to process everything that's happened in the game the weekend before, but you know, the big thing for everyone is that we're really consistent in our approach to our game. Obviously, the disappointment out of round one. There's always so much pressure going into round one, and expectations, all those sort of things and in the end, we obviously didn't live up to the expectations and didn't perform. And we wear that on the chin, and it's up for us to answer those questions this week against Richmond.”

Josh Carr on Jeremy Finlayson being omitted from the side:

“It's probably just felt like he's not there as far as the position goes and there were aspects of his game last weekend that we weren't happy with. So, in the end, we made that change and the changes that we made we think are important going into this week against Tigers. Jeremy knows what (he needs to work on). He's aware of it. I don't think I need to make that public.

“There was a number of players that held themselves accountable to what happened in the game, as well as each other. In our review, there's a lot of conversations that are had, not just from coaches to players, but players to players and players to coaches. So, the accountability aspect is all over the ground, and we're not highlighting one person just because he's been omitted from the team.”

Josh Carr on what the coaches have discussed with Finlayson:

“The reason why Jezza went there was obviously because of the lack of talls that we had. Now, we're starting to get (some back). Esava is starting to play at the Maggies now and getting some games in so the depth in those positions is becoming stronger.

“If you think about Jezza and his strengths, it's probably not as a back, it's definitely as a forward and that ruck combination. But out of necessity was the reason why we obviously went with him down back in the last few weeks.

”Offensively is obviously his weapon, and when he gets the ball, he uses it. But there's other aspects of his game that, especially as a back and a key back, that he's got to be better at.”

Josh Carr on Christian Moraes making his AFL debut:

“It's a great story for him. He's worked really hard over the summer. He's been pretty consistent in his form over the summer. Also, he's elite with his work rate, his contest to contest (work). Obviously, it's a surprise externally. Internally, he was around the mark, and you know, we feel it is important to reward form at this stage.

“He loves his football. He is in my office every day, annoying the hell out of me and Sutts, the development coach (Cam Sutcliffe). His attention to detail on his game is just super so his want to play AFL footy is nearly some of the strongest that I've seen.

“I think it's not going to bother him too much, as far as being overawed by the situation, I think he's going to be ready for it and I think he can surprise a few.”

Josh Carr on the excitement within the club of playing its first home game for 2025:

“There's a response that's needed, and there's no better way to do that than in front of your home crowd. As I said, there's a level of disappointment by everyone, and that's obviously us internally, but we understand our supporters would be disappointed from last week so it's about us together and doing it together, and we're looking forward to playing in front of them.”

Josh Carr on whether Travis Boak has been asked to play a slightly different role due to Zak Butters being injured:

“We have. Last week, Trav spent a fair bit of time inside as well as outside. So, you know, he's experienced. He's a great leveler for the players around him, with the guys in the team, and we know that he can play a number of roles, so that's always nice.”

Josh Carr on Ollie Lord’s form:

“In previous years, he's been knocking the door down and coming into the team, and just at the moment, he's probably just a little bit off in regards to his own form. He's probably a product a little bit of those injuries in the pre-season, because in the pre-season games, he was played in the ruck a lot. We're just trying to give him his best chance now to go forward at the Maggies and get his form up so that when he comes into the AFL team, he comes in with confidence. And, like I said, it's probably the ruck stuff, probably holding him back a bit in that in that pre-season, we needed someone to compete against (Jordon) Sweetie, because we didn't have the other two guy and Lord, he was that guy that went in there. Hopefully from now on, he can build that form at Maggies.”

Josh Carr on the media speculation of confusion following the announcement of the club’s future coaching plan:

“I'm really comfortable with understanding what my role is and what our role is at this footy club and where we're at so when there's noise outside, it doesn't bother me and I don’t think it bothers anyone internally, because we understand what our jobs are.”

Josh Carr on whether he needed to help life senior coach Ken Hinkley up after last week’s result:

“No, I didn't need to lift Ken up at all. He's a big boy. He's dealt with a lot of this previously and as I said, that's the job as coaches that we've got. Externally, the pressure comes on and you like to think that's when we do our best work.”