THE disappointment of 2006 is a distant memory and all eyes at the club are firmly on the future.

In a year devastated by injury the Power was denied any opportunity to ease into the rebuilding process.

But when one door closes, another opens, and depending only on the fitness of captain Warren Tredrea, the Power should head into round one with its best 22.

Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan form the premier ruck combination in the business and will provide ball magnets Kane Cornes, Steve Salopek and Dom Cassisi with first look.

Add to the mix last season’s revelation, Danyle Pearce, and the brothers Burgoyne, Peter and Shaun, and even the West Coast Eagles will battle to contain all six.

Game breakers

Warren Tredrea: A team cannot be at its best without the captain. This is especially true when your leader is a four-time All-Australian and has led the club’s goalkicking on six occasions. Tredrea managed just 11 games last season after dislocating his knee and requiring surgery after round 15. He provides a strong presence and target up forward, an attribute the Power sorely missed in 2006. Port Adelaide players and fans alike will be desperately hoping ‘Tredders’ can regain his fitness this season and reach the 200-game milestone he richly deserves.

Damon White: Coming off his best season to date, Damon White has the potential to take his game to another level in 2007. White kicked 19 goals in 2006 and the Power will be expecting an even bigger tally this year. The Port Adelaide big man is a strong mark and has tremendous aerobic capacity, making him a tough match-up for opposition players. With Tredrea likely to be eased back into full-scale competition, White will provide the Power with another option at centre half-forward, freeing Tredrea to regain match fitness from the goalsquare. At 23, White has shaken off injuries that plagued the start of his career and is now ready to deliver on the glimpses of brilliance he has shown in six years at Port Adelaide.

Port Adelaide assistant coach Matthew Primus on Damon White: “Damon had a year last year where he actually began to believe in himself and become a pretty good AFL player for us. With Tredders needing some time to get back to his best, Damon is hugely important, not only for his marking ability up the ground but as a guy who can play out of the goalsquare and kick goals for us. Every team needs a good big guy up forward and Damon is going to be ours for quite some time.”

Peter Burgoyne: Another Power player looking to return to his brilliant best in 2007. Burgoyne managed only 10 games before requiring season-ending hamstring surgery in 2006. The silky-smooth midfielder averaged 20-plus possessions in nine of his games last year and has signalled his return to full fitness by burning up the track over the pre-season. His 184 games will provide the young Power squad with a wealth of valuable experience and he is an essential component of the explosive Port Adelaide midfield. Peter will be out to re-establish himself as the premier Burgoyne at Alberton.

Matthew Primus on Peter Burgoyne: “Everyone is looking forward to seeing Peter play alongside his brother Shaun. If you have those two in the midfield, they are as good as they get. Peter’s been a terrific player for quite a few years and we certainly missed him last year.”

X Factor

Daniel Motlop: The Power’s prize recruit at the 2005 National Draft had a frustrating debut season.Motlop was troubled by a persistent shoulder injury and after just 11 games opted for a reconstruction to prepare for 2007. Over the pre-season the Power reaffirmed their confidence in the small forward, handing him club legend Gavin Wanganeen’s prized No.4 guernsey. If the freakish goalkicker can repeat his effort in 2004, when he bagged 34, the Port Adelaide forward line is sure to be more imposing.

The Final Word

With one of the youngest lists in the competition Power coach Mark Williams won’t be expecting miracles – but he might just see a couple.

Port Adelaide had four Rising Star nominees last season in Pearce, Symes, Surjan and Chaplin, and all will be better for the experience.

If skipper Warren Tredrea fires, and better still, Damon White, Daniel Motlop, Brett Ebert and David Rodan lend a hand, the Power will be better able to capitalise on the hard work of the midfield.

The consistency of young players will be an issue but they will be well supported all over the ground by the likes of Chad and Kane Cornes, Brendon Lade and Darryl Wakelin.

The Power will be hoping for a better run with injuries this season and if they can keep their best 22 on the park, will upset more than a couple of premiership favourites.

The young squad may lack the experience of the top four teams but never underestimate the power of enthusiasm and a team with nothing to lose. The Port Adelaide tradition is built on success and will see the Power back knocking on the door of the eight this year.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Port Adelaide Football Club.