PORT Adelaide forward Jay Schulz says the next coach of the Power will inherit an exciting group of players, despite the side slumping to another loss at the weekend.
Although controlling the game for the most part of three quarters, a goalless final term saw the Brisbane Lions sneak home by 10 points on Saturday.
Skill errors and turnovers continued to hamper the side's efforts, raising further questions over the club's list.
But Schulz was adamant the players on Port's books, claiming injury was a major factor in the side's downfall this year, should excite the new coach.
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Nearly half of the Power's playing list has spent time on the sidelines in 2012, including several of its best players including Robbie Gray, Hamish Hartlett, Travis Boak, Schulz, John Butcher and Dom Cassisi.
In round 14 against Geelong, the Power headed to Simonds Stadium without a single member of its leadership group because of injury.
"I definitely think the talent's here and there is proof in what we've done this year [and] way the boy's have played through periods of games," Schulz said.
"We've lost a lot of blokes this year through injury which really hurts especially in the second half of the year and getting them all up and running through pre-season, I still think there are really exciting times ahead."
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Schulz said the side's inability to concentrate for whole matches was also behind the disappointing season, indicated by the Power's tendency to drift in and out of matches all year.
It was the same story at the weekend, when a six-goal third term saw the Power enter the fourth quarter with a 13-point lead before the Lions stormed home.
"Throughout the whole year it's been a concentration thing and following instructions for 120 minutes of a game," Schulz said.
"When we set up the right way and we do the right things that we're supposed to do then we match it some of the best sides and give them a good run.
"That's got to be a focus for us … and if I could figure out why we don't for the whole period of the game then I'd be letting everyone know, but that's something we'll work through as a group."
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Fans have voted on the Power's miserable season with their feet, as the club drew consecutive crowds of fewer than 14,000 spectators to its round 21 and 22 games.
Schulz said the players wanted to gift their supporters a win in the final game of the season against Richmond on Sunday, as well as everyone involved at the club including themselves.
"We really want to get a win for everyone, not just ourselves, not coaches, not supporters; everyone," he said.
"So [it's] really important for us and we'll do everything we can to go over there and give them a run for their money."
Harry Thring covers Port Adelaide for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: AFL_Harry
