JAY Schulz says that Port Adelaide has improved its football in 2012 and that he doesn’t need stats to prove it.

Port Adelaide’s key forward said that his level of satisfaction at Alberton remains high and that statistics don’t tell the story of a football club.

[ Video: Schulz with courage ]

He laughed off suggestions he was accepting of Port Adelaide’s 4-7 record after round 11.

“Absolutely not, I’d love to win every game,” said Schulz.

“Realistically…from what you hear from people saying about ‘Have we improved? Haven’t we improved?’ I can tell you honestly as a player, as myself, I feel a lot more comfortable and go in each week with a lot more confidence of us being able to win every game that we play.

“You can give me stats... as a player on the ground I hate stats.”

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Schulz is Port Adelaide’s leading goal and kicked two goals against Hawthorn to bring his tally to 25 for the year.

Despite going down to Hawthorn on Sunday afternoon, Schulz defended Port Adelaide’s performance and is confident the team will continue to convert its better form to wins.

“I go on how I feel during the game, I go on how our players are feeling, how the game’s going and I feel fantastic each week going into our games,” said Schulz.

“We’ve pushed bloody good sides this year.

“[Earlier] during the year, although the results didn’t go our way, we haven’t been beaten by 100 points like we were last year, we haven’t had those games."

Although the loss to Hawthorn leaves the Power sitting at 4-7 shortly before the half-way point of 2012, Schulz is confident that Port is playing a brand of football that is capable of challenging the top sides of the AFL.

“We got beaten by a quality side on the weekend who I think is going to play in a grand final and I don’t think we embarrassed ourselves by any stretch - that’s just me honestly as a player.”

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Port Adelaide plays the Western Bulldogs in its last game before a one-week bye, and Schulz expects a close, contested game with the Power's emphasis on beating their opponents all over the ground.

“The Bulldogs this year have shown they want to play 1-on-1 contested footy all over the ground, for us to beat them we have to bring that exact same game and try to get outside them.”

“We’ve got to win the inside ball and that’s what they’ve been focussing on massively - 1-on-1 player all over the ground see if you can beat your man.”

“It’s a fantastic challenge for us and the way our guys love to play footy.”