Which team will be the biggest slider and who will be the biggest riser in 2024?
Former GWS co-captain Phil Davis has identified the team he believes will drop away this coming season after impressing for large portions of the 2023 campaign.
Port Adelaide is that club after finishing third last year before bowing out of the finals in straight sets.
Davis has some concerns with the Power’s forward line if veteran Charlie Dixon is unable to play regularly, while casting doubt over their new-look defence.
“I’m really interested in Port Adelaide,” Davis said on SEN Breakfast.
“I’m a little bit concerned. I thought their finals were a little bit lacklustre.
“I look at the structure of the team and I’m a really big Charlie Dixon guy, I think he’s been awesome for so long. He’s getting old, he’s had a lot of injuries, but when he doesn’t play it looks like a different team.
“Then a lot falls to Todd Marshall, (although) we’re all excited about Ollie Lord.
“They’re not super tall down back. I know they’ve tried to correct that, but they’ve brought in (Brandon) Zerk-Thatcher and (Esava) Ratugolea.
“I just have some concerns.”
The Power returned to finals in 2023 after missing in 2022 following two straight Preliminary Final appearances.
As for Davis’ riser, the ex-Crows and Giants defender is quite bullish on Gold Coast.
“I like Gold Coast, they’ll play finals,” Davis added.
“I’m pretty confident in that.
“They’ll probably take Port Adelaide’s spot (in the eight).”
Davis recently spoke about new coach Damien Hardwick and how he can influence the Suns in his first season at helm.
HOW THE SUNS CAN BREAK FINALS DROUGHT BY USING THE “RICHMOND APPROACH”
The Suns are yet to make the eight in their history but with Hardwick in charge of a talented list, it feels like they are well placed to buck that trend.
