NETTING just two wins in their second season in the competition, Port Adelaide will look to build on the form shown in glimpses in last season, to rocket up the ladder.

TEAM LIST

#1 Janelle Cuthbertson
#2 Ebony O’Dea
#3 Angela Foley
#4 Piper Window
#5 Abbey Dowrick
#6 Molly Brooksby
#8 Ashleigh Saint
#9 Maria Moloney
#10 Indy Tahau*
#11 Caitlin Wendland
#12 Hannah Ewings*
#13 Jasmin Stewart
#14 Justine Mules-Robinson
#15 Julia Teakle
#16 Shineah Goody
#17 Ella Boag
#18 Olivia Levicki
#19 Alex Ballard
#20 Sachi Syme
#21 Amelie Borg
#22 Lauren Young*
#23 Alissa Brook
#24 Hannah Dunn*
#26 Madeline Keryk
#27 Gemma Houghton
#28 Cheyenne Hammond
#29 Matilda Scholz
#30 Teagan Germech
#32 Jasmine Simmons
#35 Kirsty Lamb
#43 Georgie Jaques
#44 Katelyn Pope
Jo Miller

*inactive player

SQUAD CHANGES

In: Alissa Brook, Molly Brooksby, Shineah Goody, Piper Window, Lauren Young, Teagan Germech, Caitlin Wendland, Kirsty Lamb, Jo Miller

Out: Erin Phillips, Yasmin Duursma, Lily Johnson, Cockatoo-Motlap, Jade de Melo, Jade Halfpenny, Maggie McLachlan and Jacqui Yorston

FIXTURE

Match 1: August 31 vs Adelaide at Alberton Oval
Match 2: September 6 vs Western Bulldogs at Mission Whitten Oval
Match 3: September 14 vs Fremantle at Alberton Oval
Match 4: September 20 vs North Melbourne Tasmania at Mission Whitten Oval
Match 5: September 24 vs Richmond at IKON Park
Match 6: September 29 vs Carlton at Alberton Oval
Match 7: October 5 vs West Coast at Mineral Resources Park
Match 8: October 10 vs Collingwood at Alberton Oval
Match 9: October 18 vs St. Kilda at Alberton Oval
Match 10: October 26 vs Gold Coast at People First Stadium
Match 11: TBC vs GWS at Alberton Oval

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

Can Port Adelaide show more composure than in 2023?

Port Adelaide has the talent to finish better than they have done the last few seasons but due to lack of experience and composure, they have fallen short of expectations.

In losses to West Coast (six points), Sydney (15 points) and Hawthorn (eight points) as well as the draw against Gold Coast, Port lacked the ability to finish off a game and win a close game.

If Port Adelaide can turn some of their honourable losses into wins, the young side will build in confidence going forward.

How will Port Adelaide’s young brigade adjust to the AFLW?

Lauren Young, Shineah Goody, Molly Brooksby, Piper Window and Alissa Brook were added to Port Adelaide’s list through the draft and Under 18 Pre-listing Period after a bumper off-season for the club.

Although Young will not play due to an ACL injury sustained during the middle of the SANFLW season, the rest of the young crop will be big contributors in Season Nine.

Having played in the SANFLW competition for many seasons, this group is poised to hit the ground running for Lauren Arnell. Brooksby, Window and Goody will top up the midfield and forwardline, while Brook will feature in defence.

How will captaincy suit Janelle Cutherbertson?

One of the best recruits that Port Adelaide have had in their history was their new skipper Janelle Cuthbertson, who moved after four seasons as a Docker.

One of the best intercept defenders in the league, she has used her experience in elite sport to her advantage.

Earning All-Australian honours in 2021, Cuthbertson has only flourished with time in the league and will continue to in the number one guernsey at Port Adelaide.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Shineah Goody

A former star of the SANFL’s Woodville-West Torrens, Shineah Goody was pre-listed by Port Adelaide in the U18 Talent Pathway Pre-Signing Period.

She burst onto the scene as a teenager playing in the SANFLW competition, earning All-Australian honours in 2022 and 2023. Goody was also awarded the Most Valuable Player award in the Under 18 National Championships.

Goody is a clean ball user with exceptional athleticism which will serve Port Adelaide in the midfield as a solid two-way runner.

PREDICTION

Port Adelaide will look to improve on two leaner first seasons to rise up to the top half of the bottom 10. Ultimately the Power should be looking towards finals but could fall short this time around.

The improvement should be seen with the addition of a more experienced head in Kirsty Lamb who will guide the young Port Adelaide midfielders.