Port Adelaide assistant Josh Carr has been impressed by the club’s midfield group this pre-season.
After joining the club from Fremantle in the off-season, Carr will take care of the on-ball unit which includes the likes of Travis Boak, Ollie Wines and Dan Houston plus emerging stars Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis.
Carr believes that mix of youth and experience is a good blend as they hope to assert themselves as one of the competition’s best midfields.
“My first impression is that they are a really humble young group,” Carr told SEN SA Breakfast.
“They’re really open to learning and getting better, I think as far as midfield experience at AFL level, there’s still a bit to go.
“I’ve enjoyed the six to eight weeks I’ve had with the group so far and slowly getting everyone on the track.
“I think it’s an exciting young group, it’s a great mix of different types of players within that midfield group.
“I think for the better midfields in the competition, that’s what you need.”
Another one of Port Adelaide’s emerging players is outside runner Xavier Duursma who is hoping to rebound from an indifferent 2022 campaign.
Now entering his fifth season at the elite level, Carr has been impressed by the 22-year-old’s pre-season as he looks to make a wing role his own in 2023.
“I think ‘X’ has had a great pre-season,” Carr said.
“I’ve been really impressed with his attitude towards his game and the way he wants to improve and get better.
“He’s obviously had a few injuries over the last couple of years as well so touch wood he’ll have an injury-free pre-season.
“I think he just rounds out the midfield, especially on the outside, I see him playing on a wing and at times contributing inside.
“But the majority of the time he’s owning that wing and giving the team that run up and down the ground that at his best we know he can do.”
Port Adelaide kick off their 2023 season with a Round 1 clash against Brisbane at the Adelaide Oval on March 18.