AS most footy followers know, the pre-season competition has not been a great indicator of how sides will fare in the regular season.

Carlton took out their second NAB Cup in three years last weekend but will be hoping this time it can go on to better things after collecting a pair of wooden spoons in the same period of time.

Reigning premiers the West Coast Eagles managed only one win in this season’s NAB Cup, as did the team they best in last season’s preliminary final, the Adelaide Crows.

However, Port Adelaide is hoping to buck the trend and is confident its impressive pre-season form won’t be a flash in the pan.

The Power toppled three of last year’s final eight, beating Adelaide, Sydney and St Kilda, and was desperately unlucky not to progress further after being washed out in extra time by Geelong.

Enjoying his first year on the Power’s senior list, Tom Logan says there are some exciting times ahead for Port Adelaide supporters.

“It’s a bit hard to take too much out of the pre-season but it’s certainly important that we did play well as a team and we looked like we could make an impact this year,” Logan said.

“It was really four good results. Even though we lost to Geelong we probably took more out of that game than we did in the game against Sydney where we won.”

More important than the results was the emergence of some genuine talent at Alberton.

No-one has been more impressive than Richmond recruit David Rodan, whose hard work over the pre-season will likely be rewarded with a place in the side against Fremantle.

Rodan adds pace to an already electric midfield and his four goals against St. Kilda showed he will be another creative option up forward.

Brett Ebert appears to have cemented his spot in the forward line, kicking four goals on two occasions during the pre-season.

The experienced Rodan and Ebert were well supported by 20-year-old Adam Cockshell, who goaled in each of his three games and looks to be a ready-made AFL player.

Damon White moved another step closer to establishing himself as Warren Tredrea’s able substitute, booting five goals in three appearances and providing plenty of run off the half-forward line.

At the other end of the ground, utility Michael Pettigrew showed enough to probably secure a round-one berth with a brilliant first half against Sydney.

Pettigrew relished the rematch with the Swans’ Michael O’Loughlin and had the clever forward covered until injuring his ankle.

Returning from injury, the 22 year-old is just one of a dozen Power players who were desperate to impress the selectors over the pre-season.

“These games are super important for building confidence and for the guys who just need to get a bit of touch back so they’re ready to go for round one,” Pettigrew said.

Nathan Krakouer is one player whose confidence will have skyrocketed over the pre-season.

At only 66kg, initial reports suggested the lightning quick Krakouer would be a work in progress.

But two impressive performances and a three-goal haul against St Kilda has coach Mark Williams already suggesting Krakouer will be as good as any Aboriginal player to set foot at the club.

Pettigrew also is an admirer of the Power’s third-round draft pick.

“I like Nathan Krakouer. I think he’s going to be great. Even though he’s light, he still plays well. Maybe not this year, but in the not-too-distant future, he’ll be the one to watch.”