ASSISTANT coach Brett Montgomery says the selection squeeze for Port Adelaide’s Round 1 side has become even harder after the club’s practice game win over the Crows at Alberton on Saturday.

The Crows started strongly with the opening two goals before Port took control in the second term and went on to win by 52 points.

A devastating eight-minute third quarter burst, which saw Port pile on five goals, helped the home side run out comfortable 18.17 (125) to 11.7 (73) winners.

The sides each featured 26 players and were missing others through injury, and Montgomery says it’ll be tough to determine who misses out come Round 1.

“I hope those spots stay alive for all of those blokes who are in the mix right now,” he said at a press conference after the game.

“We’ve got a really exciting list this year, we’ve brought in some new players in Aliir (Aliir), Orazio (Fantasia) and Lachie Jones and hopefully in the next game against the Crows next week they get another chance to put their case forward.

“I think we all really liked (what we saw). I think they’re all really talented and they’ll earn their spot in the side, like they did today.

“We’ve got a really strong squad and the longer we can keep that depth at our disposal, the better we’re going to be.”

Miles Bergman also had his first look at the level and seemed comfortable at half back while Willem Drew impressed through the middle after a long layoff.

“Drew hasn’t played footy in well over a year so he starts his journey again,” Montgomery explained.

“He’s a quality young man that’s got a quality game that we think can be really important for us.

“He’s got some strong midfield competition in there but he’s certainly going to push them for selection, whether that’s round one or later in the year.”

Playing flat 30-minute quarters, the Port Adelaide coaching staff used the game to try a few players in different positions including Riley Bonner on wing and getting further forward, Karl Amon and Zak Butters through the middle and Steven Motlop at half back at times.

Montgomery said that versatility would be important across a lengthy season.

“We’ve thrown challenges to every player across the list to make sure that they’ve got a secondary role and know it inside out,” he said.

“With the quarters going back to full length and a 22-game season it’s back to a full slog and we think we’re going to need a squad that knows multiple roles.

“We started a journey with that two years ago and we’ve strengthened that again.”

Connor Rozee shook off any doubts about his foot to join Orazio Fantasia with two goals and Charlie Dixon and Xavier Duursma managed three each in the 52-point win.

Todd Marshall hurt his cheek and left the game in the second quarter but is expected to be fit to face the Crows in the AAMI Community Series game at Noarlunga next Sunday.

More than anything, Montgomery said, the side felt it was good to be back playing footy.

“I know our players were craving a hit-out against another team,” he said.

“Whilst the pre-season has been shorter than normal, I think that’s what players do – they crave a contest against someone else, whether that was the Crows or someone else.

“We saw a pretty good hit-out that was pretty competitive.”

Details around ticketing for the AAMI Community Series game against Adelaide at Noarlunga are expected to be released on Monday.