Terry Wallace has explained why he believes Port Adelaide are a “flaky” group heading into the new season.
The AFL Hall of Famer cited the inability to seize the big moments in games as one of the reasons behind his worries about the Power.
“You even go back to the season prior where they had that home final against ‘Dad’s Army’ in the West Coast Eagles,” Wallace told SEN SA’s Dwayne’s World.
“They virtually had the game in their grasp and they found a way to get beaten. It’s those big moments that have just worried me.”
While praising the additions of premiership Eagle Scott Lycett and Hawks defender Ryan Burton, Wallace says the age of Port's senior players is a concern moving forward.
“If you’re a Port fan, I can see that we unearthed some players last year and they’re really starting to be on the improve and I get that,” he said.
“We bring in a premiership ruckman (Scott Lycett) to add to your line-up and you bring in a runner-up in the Rising Star in Ryan Burton.
“I go the other way and they had those flaky moments and your best players are your senior players who are aging. They still got good performances out of most of those aging players last year, but can they roll up and do it again?”
The three-time Hawthorn premiership player thinks coach Ken Hinkley will find it hard to replace departed pair Jared Polec and Chad Wingard.
“You lose two of what I would call really serious players for the football club in (Jared Polec) and (Chad) Wingard,” Wallace said.
“I know (Jasper) Pittard hadn’t been in the line-up and someone like a (Riley) Bonner has probably gone past him, but if a footsolider goes down, you’ve got to go to kids.
“I thought they drafted very very well. I understood that they saw that as being a really strong draft and were prepared to give away a couple of senior blokes to get some kids in, but can the kids impact straight away?”
Port Adelaide open their 2019 campaign against Melbourne at the MCG on March 23rd.
Listen to today's edition SEN SA’s Dwayne’s World with Dwayne Russell in the player below