PORT ADELAIDE assistant coach Nathan Bassett says his side has no preference over its Preliminary Final opponent, but he will have a close eye on both Richmond and St Kilda tonight.
Port will take on the winner of Friday night’s Semi-Final between the Tigers and Saints at Adelaide Oval next week.
Bassett said he and the other coaches would get together at coach Ken Hinkley’s house to take the game in and continue building the connection between them.
“It’ll be a good experience to watch a game together (on television),” Bassett said in a press conference after training at Alberton on Friday.
“Normally we’d be travelling interstate to watch it but we’ll do it a couple of us tonight.
“I’m not sure (Ken)’s much of a cook… I’ve heard pizzas are on the go.
“It’s not just player connection but it’s coach connection and that’s something we want to keep building as well.”
Bassett said the game would be reviewed in more detail across the weekend, once Port’s opponent becomes apparent.
“It’s always a bit trickier when you’re watching it on the small screen to see what’s happening off ball,” he explained.
“We’ll see a lot from behind the goals (vision) when we come in on Saturday or Sunday to see what either Richmond or St Kilda have been doing.
“But it still gives us some familiarity with both sides and how they’re playing.”
As for who he would prefer Port to come up against, Bassett had no preference.
Instead, he joked about how he would like to see the game pan out.
“Extra time, 22 injuries to the winning team – no not really,” he laughed.
“We know both sides are good teams and we’ll play whoever we have to meet.
“I think there’s some similarities with some little differences between each team.
“Richmond have been doing what they’ve been doing for a long time and they’re quite consistent in how they play and St Kilda’s had a great little jump in performance this year so both sides present challenges.”
Port used Friday’s training to have a full-contact match simulation and the session was a high intensity hit-out with pressure on for spots.
The side has navigated a number of challenges in a trying season to finish on top of the ladder and win through to a home Preliminary Final.
Asked if it had been one of his more enjoyable football years so far, Bassett said that was not how he would describe it.
“It’s been an interesting year – there’s been a lot happening so it’s not like a usual year,” he said.
“I don’t know if enjoyable is the right word but it’s been nice to see some of the growth in the players and the team to look like a very good side at the moment.”
