PORT ADELAIDE will jump at its final opportunity to win a NAB Challenge match before the season commences, after naming Chad Wingard and Charlie Dixon in its line-up for the first time in the pre-season series.
“It’s our last real chance to iron out some creases before we get into the season,” Power forward Jay Schulz told FIVEaa.
Schulz said Port’s new-look forward line became more versatile during the pre-season, with a strong focus on flexibility within individual roles aimed to keep opponents guessing.
“We’ve been working really hard together to learn each others' games and bring Charlie in to figure out what he likes and doesn’t like, where he likes to play and lead,” Schulz said.
He said the players are keen to put in a strong performance for four quarters against Richmond on Thursday night, especially after falling away against Melbourne two weeks ago.
Schulz said Power fans should expect maximum effort and tough Port Adelaide footy.
“That’s how we play and what we want to be known for, so the boys will be out there giving it a red hot crack and giving effort for as long as they can,” he said.
Rule changes throw teams a curve ball
Schulz hopes changes to the ‘exclusion rule’ which now permits players stand no closer than 10 metres to the player awarded a mark or free kick will give goal kickers a better chance to finish the job.
“I think the five-metre [rule] was still okay but was really inconsistent and needed to be enforced more by the umpires,” Schulz said.
He said increasing the distance to 10 metres will give a better gap to players lining up for goal.
“It’ll be great and I think you’ll see more goals kicked which is what everyone wants to do,” he said.
When asked how the decrease in the number of interchanges allowed per game will affect Port Adelaide, Schulz believes his side’s fitness will hold up with a reduction to 90 rotations.
“We’re lucky in the sense where we’ve never been a high rotating side anyway and we’ve played our first two NAB Challenge to the 90 anyway to try and get our boys as used to it as possible.”
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