PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was all smiles after the performance of spearhead Charlie Dixon but said the challenge for the giant forward was to replicate his form "again and again and again".
Dixon kicked four goals in Port's clinical 21-point win over Brisbane in their Marsh Community Series opener, and looked close to his best after a rough 18-month trot.
"I couldn't be more pleased with what he's done," Hinkley said.
Dixon played just nine games last season after breaking his leg in 2018.
The Queensland product faced a stiff examination first-up, matching one of the game's best defenders in Harris Andrews.
The pair split many of their 50-50 duels, but Dixon finished with 4.3 from 18 disposals to give the Port forward line a totally different look.
"It's obvious what he does for our forward line," Hinkley said.
"He's such a big figure … he gets great opponents.
"He gets regularly double-teamed, which he should because we direct a lot of ball at him.
"(Mitch) Georgiades, (Connor) Rozee, (Zac) Butters, (Steven) Motlop, (Todd) Marshall, those boys, they all get reward a lot of times off what Charlie does for them.
"That's the importance of him to our side.
"The challenge for Charlie, like the team, he's started really well and he's got to do it again and again and again."
While Port thrived in the blustery conditions, Brisbane looked a little off the pace.
Despite 46 disposals from Lachie Neale, Lions assistant coach Jed Adcock said there was still improvement in his midfield ace.
"He was probably one of the guys early that overused handball and I think we saw when he used it by foot a bit more later in the game, how much more effective it was," Adcock said.
"He's a professional. He came back really hungry after the end of last year and he's fit and ready to go and works as hard as anyone.
"There's no secret to games to footy, you turn up to more contests, you put yourself in good spots, that's Lachie."
Adcock had no firm update on the health of Alex Witherden and Marcus Adams, who both left the field and did not return following separate head clashes.
