Harty at Halfway: Dubai bringing out the best in youth brigade
Port Adelaide's younger players are pushing the old guard in Dubai, says Shaun Hart.
Hart told portadelaidefc.com.au the players have bought into the new fitness and player development program developed by the Power's high performance and coaching panels, and a number of candidates have shown real mettle in the heat and humidity of the Emirate.
He's been particularly pleased by a number of new players who have held up strongly through the first half of the program.
"I think they're really strong, they're very resilient," Hart said.
"Our young guys particularly have found it tough and you can see the strain on their faces at times, but they just keep pushing themselves.
"Already you realise the power of the leadership in our football team to cause that sort of buy-in and effort to come from those who are new to our football club."
While a handful of players are still part of a rehabilitation program, the vast majority of the playing group are being pushed through the full training program in Dubai.
With just three days left in the program, Hart says a number of emerging talents - such as second-year player Karl Amon - have shown significant leadership within the group by pushing a number of elder statesman.
"There are a couple of guys who need to be in rehab and the majority of those doing the full program have been fantastic," Hart said.
"Karl [Amon] has grabbed a hold of Boaky and a couple of others at times, gone past Kane Cornes in one run, so it's a credit to him that he's come back with a great mindset.
"In my experience, many second-year players don't take big steps forward in their pre-season, but he's just jumped in a big way and looks like he could push to play some quality senior football in 2015."
Hart also said the team has been willing to throw up new challenges at times, including a surprise wrestling bout between new midfield manager Michael Voss and big-bodied midfielder Ollie Wines.
Just weeks into his tenure at Port Adelaide, Voss is beginning to demonstrate his own value to the club and has gelled with the playing group well.
"He [Voss] is a big unit, and I'm just forever grateful that I never had to play against him," Hart said.
"I'm sure I couldn't wrestle Ollie, but Vossy is able to and it adds a bit of spice to the camp - it's not just player-v-player, it's coach-v-player at times too.
"We've seen already his coaching methods and ability to bring new ideas.
"His presentation in our leadership meetings demonstrates we've got a person on board who's able to help take our players to the next level."
Port Adelaide returns from Dubai next week.