Dear Members and Supporters,

I know the past two months have been pretty tough on you.

Missing the finals, and then having to endure the torture of the trade period, is pretty rough.

Particularly when really good players are involved.

I would be the competition’s worst player list manager…I want to keep them all!

But in our industry, that just won’t cut it.

Our job is to continually present teams capable of winning games of footy, particularly finals.

If you’re not winning enough, that means change.

With change, comes new opportunity.

I’m looking forward to Hamish, Todd and Broady coming back fit and healthy and ready to push themselves into the team.

I think Scott Lycett’s recent premiership experience will provide invaluable learnings about what it takes to win at the highest level.

His presence adds a new dimension to Paddy Ryder, and what we can do up forward.

All of a sudden there are multiple options for our new coaching panel to think about…

Westy, Charlie, Jack, Todd, Paddy, Scott…where do they all go?

I can’t wait to see where Ryan Burton is going to take his career with us. This kid is a ripper down back, we know that.

But I sense there is a lot more to him…it’s going to be fun watching him grow.

And Sam Mayes…a top ten pick in his day, what’s he going to bring?

I want to see what another year in the Port Adelaide system does for Tom, Motts and Jack.

Chris Judd talks a lot about the cohesion factor, when multiple players are added into a team all at once, sometimes it takes a while for it all to gel.

We’ll see.

And what about the bulls…Wines, Ebert, SPP, Boak, Rockliff…they’re all still there.

As are the Gray boys.

And our young backs…the stars of the show in 2018…should still have a fair bit of upside in them.

In relation to assistant coaches, how good is it to have some Port Adelaide premiership flavour return to the club with Monty and Schoey?! I know they can’t wait to get stuck in.

 

And can you remember the excitement of watching Chad and Ollie arrive on the scene as top 10 picks in 2012 and 2013?

Well, we’ve got two more top ten’s coming and pick 15 as well.

 

As sad as it may feel, I hope Chad, Jared, Jasper and Jack find happiness and continued success in their football careers.

Likewise, I wish delisted players Jakey Neade, Dom Barry, Will Snelling, Jimmy Toumpas and Emmanuel Irra along with retiree Lindsay Thomas all the best in the future.

These are all good young men, who have served our Club well, operating in a system which is being increasingly designed to encourage player movement.

It’s just part of the deal.

 

We’ve got an enormous opportunity before us.

Don’t for a second think that Port Adelaide is wounded or rebuilding.

We’re just gearing up for another go at it!

 

Keep an eye on draft night!

 

KT

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