Well the first four weeks of the season are done and have been really challenging for the playing group, especially the first two weeks, which were certainly a big, big learning curve for us.

Firstly, going to Perth to play Freo in Round 1 is about as big a challenge for any club in the league.

We saw first-hand the quality of football that they’ve produced early in the season and it shouldn’t be any surprise they’re on top of the ladder. That game was an opportunity to put what we’ve done in the off-season to the test against a team we’ve built a good rivalry with over the last few years.

Then we came home to play the Swans at the Adelaide Oval, and we were really disappointed with that performance.

Ken talks a lot about doing the little things right, and those things were missing in the first two weeks – we just weren’t up to standard, and we set the bar for ourselves very high.

To be honest, we probably haven’t got the little things completely right in the last two games either, but we’ve done enough things well to make sure we got over the line.

I think that’s especially true of our first three quarters against Hawthorn, but also the way we stuck with it when North Melbourne turned the tide against us in the fourth quarter at Etihad.

It’s important that we keep doing the little things and stick it out.

We took a lot out of these first four results, and have got a good look at these other clubs, which is very important for us.

To match up against the four of the best sides from last year in the first month this season is a really rare and significant opportunity – we can see how we rate against the best and learn from it.

I think we’ve improved our game over the last month, seen what happens when we don’t reach the standard we want and what’s possible when we do. When we get our defence right then everything else flows well, that’s what set us up against the Hawks.

There’s still a long way to go though, and our next battle is this Sunday against the Crows.

It will be a big weekend, but the build-up is probably a little different for Showdowns these days.

When I first started at Port there was still a lot of intensity around the rivalry between the two clubs, and the old guys would get us up for a big game.

Nowadays the professionalism of the competition is at another level again, and we need to make sure we’re respecting all opposition and preparing for each game in the same way every week – that’s what being elite is all about.

But we pride ourselves on doing well in big games, and this is the state’s biggest. We’ll wear our new Showdown guernsey and you’ll see the intensity reach another level when that first ball is bounced on Sunday arvo. You’ll see the way we play Port Adelaide footy when the Crows throw their own brand at us.

We want to make sure you go to school and the office with a big smile on Monday morning.

After four rounds I’ve also reflected a bit on the change that has taken place this year, especially with our first look at the way Paddy has settled into the club and how the midfield and leadership structure at the club is working with Vossy now involved.

It’s been great to see how Ryder and ‘Lobbes’ worked together last week and what they can produce. I’m sure they’re going to keep blossoming. We knew Paddy would bring a lot to the team – he’s just a great player and person – it feels like he’s been here for five or six years and he’s really enjoying his footy with us.

And then there’s Vossy. We’re really lucky to have one of the best leaders to ever play the game, and one of the best midfielders to play the game on board. Vossy bring some really special expertise to the club and he’s already added so much from the midfield and leadership perspectives to the group.

We’ve also got all the new boys who came in through the year playing for the Maggies with Buddha, and they’ve started their season really well. You’ll see the majority of the AFL boys at Alberton on Saturday after open training supporting the Magpies.

It will be great to see heaps of our fans out at training and hanging around to watch the Maggies later that afternoon.

Thanks for your support early in the season. We’ve had two huge games at Adelaide Oval and heaps travel over for the two away games.

Even though it’s an away Showdown this weekend, we know those who come along will still make plenty of noise for us. Our home crowds have been nuts these first two home games and we want to keep hearing that POWER chant all game for the rest of the year.

Nothing beats playing in front of our crowd.

See you this weekend!

Boaky