PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams says standards at Alberton have slipped and must be re-established in order for the club to become a dominant force in the AFL.

The Power finished top four between 2001 and 2004, culminating in the club's maiden premiership in 2004.

It played off in a grand final in 2007, but Williams said the results of the past two seasons suggested the overall standard at the club had declined.

"When we were a dominant side our professionalism couldn't be questioned. I think we set a pretty high standard for a long time within the club. Looking at it now I don't think it's as high," Williams said after Saturday night's four-point loss to North Melbourne.

"We'll question every degree of that [standard now] and that goes right across the board. It doesn't miss anyone including [football manager] Peter Rohde, me or [players] down at the bottom of the list.

"We need to keep the standard, re-establish what the standard is and look to drive that standard."

Dynamic onballer David Rodan was dropped for the clash with North Melbourne because of a perceived weakness in the defensive side of his game.

Williams said the decision was an example of the standard that needed to be set among the club and the players.

"They [players like Rodan] probably could've been accused of that [not adhering to team rules] in the past but when you win you probably overlook things," he said.

"The standards have to be really driven home. I need to be on top of that."

The Power went into Saturday's game determined to see off retiring club champions Brendon Lade and Peter Burgoyne in the best possible fashion.

Williams described letting Lade and Burgoyne down as "a bitter pill to swallow" and said the performance against the Roos was an accurate reflection of the team's up and down season.

"There's no honour in losing when you have those greats of our club looking for a win. It was devastating. Right now, it's about getting on with next year and getting this [season] out of the way."

Williams identified the performances of impressive teenagers Hamish Hartlett (two goals) and Matthew Broadbent (16 possessions and one goal) as positives from the match and said the club would leave no stone unturned in trying to find the answers for its disappointing season.

"We've been worse than this…last year we were 13th. We've improved and we've won more games," he said.

"We want to keep building on those younger players. As the sun sets on two careers others are blossoming and looking forward to reaching the heights that they might."