Port expecting crocked captain to be ready for 2027

Port Adelaide CEO Matthew Richardson is confident that star captain Connor Rozee will reach full fitness in time for Round 1 of 2027.

The Power skipper went down with a hamstring tendon rupture in Round 2, subsequently missing the entirety of Port's difficult 2026 campaign.

And while it was expected that Rozee would be ready to go ahead of next season, a trip to the UK to work with a hamstring specialist raised some concerns over his long-term health.

That said, after Rozee was seen training with the first-to-fourth-year players upon their return to pre-season on Monday, Richardson has confirmed that the captain's timeline has not shifted.

“Very confident (that he returns for Round 1),” Richardson told SEN SA's The Run Home.

“I've sort of had the benefit of looking out my window and seeing Connor train over the last couple of months.

“If you watch him move, he's moving really well. You wouldn't really be able to tell the difference.

“I know that the treatment was more to do with where he's at in his recovery. It's more a nerve issue, so as I understand, it's not so much the function of his hamstring.

“There's just some delayed numbness around sort of lower down in the hamstring, and that's to do with the nerves taking a little bit longer to grow. The treatment that he had when he was away just helped accelerate that, and from what I understand, that's gone really well.

“It was great to see Connor out there today with the younger guys moving really well. We're really confident that he'll be really well prepared for 2027.”

Beyond the likely types, Richardson has pinpointed one young player who has returned in elite nick ahead of what could be a breakout season.

“If I could single out one, look at Harrison Ramm,” he said.

“He's a really impressive athlete and has started to put on some size which clearly for him and his role is going to be important over the next few years.

“No doubt (key forwards take a few years longer), but he's really starting to add to his frame, and he's got a real thirst for work but also wanting to learn.

“He's an early favourite (to break out in 2027).”

After losing Zak Butters over the off-season, Port Adelaide has stocked up on draft picks in order to fast-forward their journey back to contention.

A big part of their potential future plans is South Australian native Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

The St Kilda star has expressed interest in returning to South Australia in the past, instead opting to re-sign with the Saints on a two-year deal that ends in 2027.

Best friends with Port Adelaide pair Jason Horne-Francis and Jase Burgoyne, Richardson has confirmed that the club has a plan in place to lure the superstar ahead of Tasmania’s entry in 2028.

“I never like to comment on players at other clubs,” Richardson said.

“All I would say is, clearly, we've got a really clear plan around how we're going to get back into contending as quickly as we can.

“That's twofold. One is we've got to get great talent into the club over this next period and clearly, we've executed part A of the plan over the last month; in the next couple of weeks, and we've got to use that capital to pick the right players.

“And then of course, the other part of that will be adding to our more experienced players using the mechanism of the trade in future years.

“We're open to all of that, but what I would say is we're really well planned, really well prepared, and we've got really great people leading us in that space.

“It wouldn't matter who it is. (Cash) will be the least of our issues.”

Listen to Richardson’s full interview with Kymbo and Chad below: