POWER skipper Warren Tredrea has vowed to respond to suggestions his career is over with a strong performance against Adelaide on Sunday.
On Monday night, former North Melbourne great Glenn Archer questioned the four-time All-Australian’s future on the back of Tredrea’s disappointing game against the Roos.
After two years dogged by injury, Tredrea has displayed a marked improvement in both his form and fitness and is confident Saturday's game was a one-off.
"I think the only way to respond [to that criticism] is on the field. I’ve been pretty happy with my output so far this year compared to previous seasons coming off an injury," Tredrea said on Wednesday.
"Footy has changed a lot. It’s about a group of forwards and not just one forward and that’s a transition I’ve been through. In saying that, the criticism from the weekend, it was probably the worst game I’ve played in a long, long time and I’ll be looking forward to turning that around again this week."
Tredrea also took exception to the theory his missed shot on goal was karma for the bow he took in last year’s preliminary final.
"I sort of got mixed messages watching a little bit of what Glenn (Archer) was saying," he said.
"If you’re talking about a celebration that happened over six months ago, and I think that’s what he was referring to, then I would’ve thought there have been some more average things to happen on the football field of late than someone taking a bow and supporting their supporters."
Last year, Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams revealed he was unsure about Tredrea’s future but now expects the club’s most decorated player to continue.
"At this time last year, I was unsure if he was going to play again," Williams said. "I was unsure if he’d play this year. I didn’t think his output last year was anything near up to the standard we expect from him.
"He’s a very determined man and he likes to prove people wrong. His pre-season and what he’s done this year has been outstanding. Also, from a captain’s point of view, the way he’s led and the way he’s showed players, both on the field and on the track, what people can do under that sort of adversity has been brilliant.
"You play a bad game, everyone does, and he acknowledges that. He hasn’t walked away from it.
"I’m confident he will be playing next year."
