Port Adelaide kicks of its 2012 AFL Premiership campaign this Sunday against St Kilda, and the squad selectors will have a massive challenge ahead of them with a number of players vying for selection.

Looking back
Port Adelaide enjoyed a weekend off with the New South Welsh derby taking centre stage as a standalone game last Saturday night. The break provided opportunity for several returning players to clock some more mileage in the SANFL, including the likes of Brett Ebert, Matt Thomas and Simon Phillips to name a few. The Power have a long list of players with a chance at being selected in the first senior team for the year, and leaves the club in a much more positive place heading into the Saints clash. 2012

The Coach, Matthew Primus
"We’d love to have our whole list up and available but I don’t think any club really has that. We’re as confident as we could have been that we’ve prepared right. We’ve put a hell of a lot of work into the playing group and they’ve put a lot of work into each other. So we’re as prepared as we could hope to be this time of the year and we’re really looking forward to round one and also really looking forward to the year ahead."

"It’s going to be a frenetic game. I think Round 1 is always like that. Teams are up and about and it’s normally a very fast and physical game so I’d expect it would be along those lines. St Kilda have a different feel about them with new coaches and they’re starting new again too. We’re looking for a great contest and to really test ourselves out and step it up again."

We Are Port Adelaide (on the phone too!)
On Tuesday night, Port Adelaide staff and players took to the dog-and-bone to call some 950 unrenewed members to talk with them about joining up to the club in 2012. Some fantastic results were made as around half of the playing group got in touch with prospective spectators and already-renewed supporters to extend their thanks for being on board with the club in 2012. Staff members from all divisions of the club’s operations got involved as well and achieved some great results for the Port Adelaide member tally.

[ Related: Power telethon ]

Crystal football
Supporters can prove their knowledge to friends and fellow fans throughout the 2012 season with a range of interactive games on offer via the club’s website. The Power recently re-launched Best 22 for the season, with the opportunity to win a signed photo for correctly guessing this week’s team against the Saints. Caudo Vineyards Power Tipping and the Port Adelaide Dream Team are also up-and-running so put your thinking cap on and get guessing today!

Coming up
Port Adelaide hosts St Kilda at AAMI Stadium on Sunday in the opening round for the 2012 premiership.

Selections will be a tough challenge for the coaching panel, with a number of names floated as possible contenders in the starting side. It will be an important first hit out for the club as they face a side embroiled in off-season controversy after the sudden departure of Ross Lyon from the senior coach position.

The last five
Round 16 2011, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 18.5 (53) def by St Kilda 17.7 (109)
Round 19 2010, Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 8.9 (57) def by St Kilda 23.13 (151)
Round 5 2010, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 7.12 (54) def St Kilda 6.8 (44)
Round 5 2009, AAMI Stadium - Port Adelaide 5.6 (36) def by St Kilda 15.12 (102)
Round 18 2008, Etihad Stadium - Port Adelaide 14.9 (93) def by St Kilda 14.7 (101)

The Black and the White
Port Adelaide claimed an emphatic win over the reigning premiers, the Eagles, at Thebarton Oval last Friday night. It was a fantastic night for the Magpies who are poised to win its largest batch of games in many years after strong recruiting and good performances across the entire squad. The black and white will face Sturt this weekend and will be challenged by a new look Double Blues outfit who, like the Saints in the AFL, have changed their coach over the summer. It will be very interesting to see how they cope against a quickly developing Magpies outfit

Scoreboard
Port Adelaide 18.13 (121) def
Woodville-West Torrens 10.6 (66)

Next match: Round 2 away at Commander Centre Oval, Saturday 31 March, League starts 2.10pm, Reserves 11.15am.