The Power won its first clash at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, defeating Carton 0.6.10 (46) to 1.5.1 (40). “We’ll definitely take a win,” Cassisi said.
“It was a long summer and it was good to get rewarded with a win against a good opposition.
“I thought our first half was really good. We probably didn’t make the most of it kicking our goals, but there were some good signs there and something to work with.”
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Recruits Brad Ebert and Chad Wingard were prominent as Port Adelaide demonstrated some of the improvement needed in 2012.
In the second game, Port Adelaide lost by one point to Adelaide 0.2.5 (17) to 0.2.6 (18) in what was a closer contest in the packs and on the scoreboard.
“This has been a little bit more of a contested game of footy,” Cassisi said as vice-captain Travis Boak led the team.
“There’s a bit more pressure out there which is a credit to both teams.”
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Cassisi was rested from the second contest, with the club mindful of backing up for a long NAB Cup Round 2 trip to Mandurah, WA, where it will meet West Coast from 6.40pm (SA time) on Saturday.
“I acutally would have liked to play the second game but I pulled up good and am really looking forward to the year ahead,” Cassisi said.
Port Adelaide expects to take 26 players on the trip to Western Australia, before using the third and fourth weeks of the pre-season campaign to finalise its team for the opening round of the premiership season.
The Power’s third NAB Cup game will be against Fremantle at Victor Harbour from 3.40pm on Saturday 10 March. Tickets for the clash at Encounter Bay Oval are available through ticketmaster.com.au
