Port to target defenders in trades

New Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has already started his rejuvenation of the damaged club. Picture: Calum Robertson. Source: adelaidenow

PORT Adelaide's fresh-start approach will prompt a double-edged approach as the trade period moves into its final stage this week.

The club has a new coach in Ken Hinkley, a new coaching structure with senior assistant Alan Richardson and internationally respected fitness coach Darren Burgess brought in.

The club is now at the stage where it rejuvenates its list.

Port has brought the wrecking ball to its list as the club seeks a new beginning under a new regime.

The Power will seek to draft in some experience to replace free agents Troy Chaplin, who crossed to Richmond, and new Docker Danyle Pearce.

The other half of the strategy will be based around loading up in the draft to have coverage for the group of players in the 22-25 year-old bracket that needs to continue having games invested in them.

After two weeks of dealing with free agents and waiting for the compensation picks they bring - in Power's case, pick 30 for Pearce and 31 for Chaplin - the club's have a clearer picture of their bargaining power.

There is also the Friday deadline to speed up proceedings, which have been cautious and measured for the first two weeks of the trade period.

Port Adelaide football operations chief Peter Rohde agreed it was a fair estimate Port would seek to trade for two or three players this week, with an emphasis likely to be on defenders.

It is the area where the Power has lost most: Ben Jacobs spent time there and in the midfield but has told the club he wants to return to Victoria.

North Melbourne is the front runner for his services, but there has also been interest from St Kilda and Essendon.

Jacob Surjan was down back, Chaplin was a key there and Pearce was just as damaging off half back as he was in the midfield.

"We'll bring in a couple of players through the trade, we think, through the next bit," Rohde said. "But we're going to end up with a lot of draft picks.

"We've got a lot of second, third and fourth-year players who want to put games into, which we'll continue to do.

"We want to build our squad, and it will be mainly through the draft, bringing young players in."

With Adelaide playing expected to play a small and specialised role over the trade and draft period - their list is close to full - Port Adelaide becomes the main South Australian player.

At this stage, the Power has selections 7, 29, 30, 31, 72, 90 and 106 in next month's national draft, which includes a pick for the tragic loss of John McCarthy.

The club has already picked up Essendon's Angus Monfries in return for No.48 and been severe in its pruning.

Pearce and Chaplin left on their own accord, but only days after Hinkley arrived at the club the club jettisoned crowd favourite David Rodan, former vice-captain Jacob Surjan, Mitch Banner, Simon Phillips and rookies Mitch Curnow, Daniel Webb and Jarrad Irons.

A question mark remains over Cameron Hitchcock, who is out of contract and has had continuous hamstring troubles, but he's expected to be offered a new deal despite playing just two games this season.

Hitchcock, 22, is an enterprising small forward but he will not have a lot of firepower at the negotiating table, with Port Adelaide also having had injury concerns with fellow talented players such as Hamish Hartlett and Robbie Gray.

WHAT POWER NEEDS TO REPLACE

JACOB SURJAN (delisted): A senior defender who was prepared to sacrifice his own game and never shirked a contest. A former vice-captain who could direct younger backmen.

TROY CHAPLIN (free agent to Richmond): Key defender who could both stand the key forwards from the opposition and work as a loose, intercepting defender who could set up forward thrusts.

DAVID RODAN (delisted): Zippy and elusive player who could stack up clearances, swerve, baulk and break lines and find space even in heavy traffic.

BEN JACOBS (seeking a trade): Strong utility with a good mark and a good mark. At 185cm, he could play in a variety of positions, including on the ball.

DANYLE PEARCE (free agent to Fremantle): Midfield zip, especially outside the contests, and one of the long elite kicks of the competition. He could deliver silver service from the half back line and make the forwards look good.

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