PORT ADELAIDE midfielder Karl Amon says the side’s depth and versatility will be key ingredients of its premiership push in 2021.
The Power added the experienced Aliir Aliir and Orazio Fantasia and talented draftees Lachie Jones, Ollie Lord and Taj Schofield over the off-season and put out a strong side against Adelaide last weekend, which included Aliir, Fantasia and Jones.
Captain Tom Jonas and forward Robbie Gray sat out the practice game but Amon says he expects them both to feature in a rematch in the AAMI Community Series this Sunday.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Amon said he was glad he did not have to work out how to fit them into the side.
“Obviously, we played 26 on the weekend and 26 doesn’t go into 22,” he said.
“It’s going to have to come down to 22 with those two included as well so it’s a headache not for me but for (Coach) Ken (Hinkley) and the selectors.
“As a club and as a squad, it’s a great position to be in with so much depth in the team at this time of the year.
“Everyone played well on the weekend and there were even some strong performances in the SANFL trial so it’s a big headache to have.
“As a squad we’re relying on that depth to hopefully go a long way this season.”
Amon has become one of the more consistent performers in the Port Adelaide outfit in recent years, playing every game in 2020 and finishing top ten in the best and fairest.
It has been a big shift for the 25-year-old who only played 42 games in four years and found himself in and out of the side.
With so much depth, Amon said there has to be a squad mentality to the season, with everyone playing their part.
“I was probably one of those ones who a few years ago was maybe not expecting to play this week,” he said of the game against the Crows at Noarlunga on Sunday.
“Certainly, over the last two years I’ve grown in myself and got that confidence in myself that I belong at AFL level.
“It’s just getting to that 40 or 50 mark of AFL games and getting consistency of games. Performing week to week just grows yourself and you earn that confidence in your ability to perform.
“It’s a good position to be in but I’m not content with where I am and I want to keep improving my game each week.”
Most notably a wingman, known for his run and penetrating left foot kick, the Sandringham product has been popping up through the middle in practice games this season so far.
He is hoping it will become a more regular thing, without losing his time on the wing.
“My main position the last few years was on the wing and maybe pinch hitting for one or two minutes each quarter in the middle but in more recent weeks it’s been more of a 50-50 split, which allows me to use my weapon and my run all over the ground,” he explained.
“When you’re a winger you’re more stuck to one side of the ground.
“It’s about using my run and my ability to get the ball from the inside to the outside – whether that be breaking away from a stoppage or a long clearing kick.
“I’m still wanting to use my legs as my weapon and be brave with the ball and take it on from a stoppage or congestion and get it to the outside quickly.
“I’ve enjoyed that working with the likes of (Travis) Boaky and Ollie (Wines) and hopefully I can see a few more minutes in there.”
Amon said it is part of a challenge from the coaching group for each player to be able to play more than one role.
He said he hoped that versatility would carry the side deep into the finals.
“The whole pre-season we’ve been rotating,” Amon said of the midfield group.
“We’ve got a massive group that can go inside, wing, half-forward, deep forward.
“There’s not many players in the team who have stuck to one position.
“We can all play multiple positions and we like to think that’s where our strengths lie.”
Amon will get another chance to spend time in the middle when his side tackles the Crows in the AAMI Community Series at Noarlunga on Sunday from 3:40pm.
Tickets are available for members and the general public on Wednesday and the game will be shown live on Fox Footy.
