Port Adelaide has made it to the final four two years in a row, but they have ultimately fallen short. Where does the final leap come from?
Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy believes the Power’s jump will come from internal improvement, particularly the likes of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma.
After bursting onto the AFL scene, the star trio were all struck down by injuries in 2021 limiting what may have been third-year breakout seasons.
Healy hopes the trio get a fair run at it in 2022 and take their games to the next level.
“It is (their list is good enough to win it all),” he told Sportsday.
“They need to get more out of three or four gun 21-or-unders we’ve all spoken enormously about, Butters, Rozee, Duursma and there’s two or three others. They’ve just got to lift.
“That’s their premiership. Organic growth.
“They all got injuries (in 2021), Butters had a bad PCL came back got another injury, Rozee struggled with injury as well, Duursma had the same problem.
“I think they’ll finish top four.”
Sam Powell-Pepper has been spoken about over the off-season as a player who will need to work hard to break back into Port’s best 22.
The inside midfielder played the 16 games, but found himself used as the substitute in September action.
“If he is (in their best 22) he’s number 21 or 22,” Healy said.
“That is on him. I think he can improve. They must have toyed with trading him and I think teams would have been interested.
“I’m glad he stayed. He’s one of those spiritual leaders for them.”