PORT Adelaide's Brad Gotch is fighting a David and Goliath battle as back line coach and, like David in the Bible story, he's winning.
At 166cm, Gotch stands in the shadows of the Power's key defensive trio of Alipate Carlile (192cm), Jackson Trengove (197cm) and Troy Chaplin (195cm), yet Carlile says the former Fitzroy and St Kilda rover has had a major hand in refreshing and reforming Port's defence.
"He's brought a different style - obviously he's got short-man syndrome," Carllie joked.
"He's been really good, he's really enthusiastic and positive across the board and just the way he's actually trying to teach us is a lot different to what we've had in the past."
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Carlile said Gotch had put a far bigger emphasis on attack since he joined the club last October and, complemented by the work of former Sydney Swans player Matthew Nicks, the players were responding.
"Rocking up and every day actually wanting to come has been unbelievable.
"He's (Gotch) brought a lot of structure of how we're doing that (attacking out of defence) now which has been better.
"We're predictable to each other now and just play our role and play the game plan.
"Having him and Nicksy working together both bring different aspects to the game, which has been brilliant."
With all three key defenders fighting fit, selection issues are bound to arise as to who gets the starting role.
Carlile said the group doesn't hold anything back at training sessions, but named several others who would help form the Power's back line in 2012.
"We train as hard as we can each time and there's no backward steps with all three of us.
"Guys like Nick Salter are coming through as well," he said.
"He's impressed us enormously this pre-season, his running's improved.
"Also having guys down there like Danyle Pearce and Ben Jacobs really just keep us alive and we're hoping for a more competitive effort across the board."
Port Adelaide venture to Mandurah in Western Australia to take on West Coast on Saturday, a side that not so long ago resembled the Power's current situation, before stunning everyone last season with their form reversal.
The Eagles became the first team since the Brisbane Lions in 1999 to reach a preliminary final after taking out the wooden spoon the year before.
"What they did last year was unbelievable," Carlile said.
"They pretty much changed the game with their forward press and we'll have to work to get through that this week.
"We're just going to try and stick to our structures and play our roles and go from there."
Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
