Port Adelaide SANFL Coach Matthew Lokan says his side’s impressive opening to the season will count for little if it can’t reproduce its efforts on Friday night against Glenelg.
The Magpies thrashed Adelaide by 95-points at Alberton in Round 1, and will face a Tigers side at Glenelg looking to kick-start its season after a disappointing loss to South Adelaide.
The Bays held a narrow lead at half time but were blown away after the main break, conceding ten second half goals to three to lose to the Panthers by 38 points.
Glenelg has recruited well in the off-season, landing former Sydney and Collingwood forward Jesse White, Marlon Motlop from North Adelaide, and former Carlton and Port Adelaide Magpies forward Luke Reynolds.
Lokan is particularly familiar with Motlop, who works for the Port Adelaide Football Club as an Aboriginal Programs Coordinator, and Reynolds, who left Alberton in the off-season.
“Their recruits can play some serious football,” Lokan said.
“They’ve obviously added something to their side and guys that we’ll look at putting some attention into but I think they’ve got a good even spread like us.”
Lokan was particularly pleased with the contribution of his younger players including three SANFL-contracted debutants Jack Kluske, Levi Proude and Jack Strange in the win over Adelaide.
And the Magpies Coach has urged his side to back up the high-intensity and high pressure performance at the Bay.
“Obviously last week was really pleasing and we had a really even contribution across the ground,” Lokan said.
“The boys played the type of footy that we expect here at Port Adelaide so the main message we have is whether we can reproduce the same style of footy and the same intensity we brought last week.”
Lokan spent four years as Glenelg Coach before being lured back to Alberton at the end of 2017 and said he knew the game would carry some extra feeling as a result.
“It’s an exciting opportunity or prospect to go back there for a game at Glenelg but I don’t approach it any different to how I did last week against Adelaide,” he said.
“Obviously I know a fair bit about their players which we’ll use a little bit of but we’re more worried about what we’re here to do and the way that we want to play.
“They like playing their home ground and won a lot of their home games last year, but I expect them to come out pretty hard and look to respond.
“Although we’ll spend a little bit of time on Glenelg, we’re more worried about our side and what we want to achieve.”
The Magpies will have to make one forced change from the side that defeated Adelaide, with Jimmy Toumpas suffering a shoulder injury against the Crows.
Jack Trengove, Sam Davidson and Simon Wong come into the 23-man squad to face the Tigers, with the final 21 to be named prior to the start of play.
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