Few people selected Port Adelaide as a likely finalist at the beginning of the year but from the opening game of the season when they beat the Dockers in Perth, the Power have been one of the teams that have surprised the pundits. A lot of things have gone right with Port including their recruiting.

Port’s drafting post 2006 went like this: -

Rookie Elevations: Greg Bentley, Tom Logan

National Draft: Travis Boak (5), Paul Stewart (23), Nathan Krakouer (39), Robert Gray (55), Justin Westhoff (71), Ryan Williams (83) and David Rodan (86).

Pre-Season Draft: Adam Cockshell (4)

Rookie Draft: Alex Lee, Gavin Grose, Nathan Batsanis and Peter Hardy.

These players replaced Matthew Bishop (delisted), Stuart Dew (retired), Ben Eckermann (delisted), James Ezard (delisted), Josh Francou (retired), Adam Kingsley (retired), Aaron Shattock (delisted), Peter Walsh (delisted), Gavin Wanganeen (retired), Elijah Ware (delisted) and a couple of delisted rookies.

The net result was that 12 new players were introduced into the club in the one year.

Interestingly, although they had been reasonably active in previous years, Port Adelaide didn’t make any trades during the exchange period last year.

Obviously, a lot of other things have gone right for Port but they made some good recruiting decisions this time a year ago. To have players gained from picks 71 and 86 and a rookie elevation in the team that’s made it to a Preliminary Final is a handy effort.

They also HAD the best assistant coach in the country

Seriously though, the words of Dean Bailey about developing young players keep coming to mind. Something like, "teaching 10 game players to play like 40-50 game players". No doubt the same works for 100 games players being able to play like 150+ game players.

They also have a very good mix of youth and experience. Their second tier midfielders have managed to step up into the void left by Kingsley and Francou (although that's probably happened over a couple of years) and they have had the depth, with the likes of Motlop et. al., to cover players like Dew and Wanganeen.

I'm not that surprised by where they are today. Collingwood is the real 'miracle' this season. Who even put them close to the top eight?

Go Dees - Onward and Upward

westhoff at 71 is a big surprise ,after watching him play during the year, you would think he was a top 10

Rodan was a big gamble after shocking seasons at tigers but it has sure paid off

They had the opposite of us, few injuries.

They also HAD the best assistant coach in the country

Seriously though, the words of Dean Bailey about developing young players keep coming to mind. Something like, "teaching 10 game players to play like 40-50 game players". No doubt the same works for 100 games players being able to play like 150+ game players.

They also have a very good mix of youth and experience. Their second tier midfielders have managed to step up into the void left by Kingsley and Francou (although that's probably happened over a couple of years) and they have had the depth, with the likes of Motlop et. al., to cover players like Dew and Wanganeen.

I'm not that surprised by where they are today. Collingwood is the real 'miracle' this season. Who even put them close to the top eight?

Go Dees - Onward and Upward

Toad33, who do you like in the Nat draft this year & what do you think we need mostly?

What should we do to the list?

A very astute coach, an exceptional recruiting team and a stable administration. They have an uncanny knack of being able to turn fair to middling players at other clubs into very important players at PA. Good luck to them!

i hate PA. too me they are the collingwood of the interstate teams. however i respect the way their footy club goes about success.

they expect success. and when they dont get it, they review everything. they are ruthless. they are a club that goes about winning football, not just about playing football.

i was going to post this as a reason for why i am excited about getting bailey, because he comes from that culture, but thought i would add it in here.

the last couple of years havnt been great, but they havnt gone on about 'rebuilding' or 'youth' they ahve just gone out and done it. yes i know they have had a strong core of senior players with leadership, but that was developed over there in the first place. hopefully bailey can bring that to our club.

Toad33, who do you like in the Nat draft this year & what do you think we need mostly?

What should we do to the list?

?

Apart from Kruezer I don't know who is in it this year.

I will (as always) accept what our recruiters do and back the players they select. Dean Bailey also said re: list requirements and recruiting; "always take the best player"!!

We have a reasonable mix of size, age and experience, but could probably use another BIG genuine defender and some more pace on the flanks.

Go Dees