FRESH off a fourth top four finish in the last five years, Port Adelaide welcomed three new players via trade period to help soften the blow of Dan Houston‘s move to Collingwood. Now, the Power boast a pair of top 30 selections and will look to remain a contender into the long-term.

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2024 RECORD: 2nd, 16-7, 114.8% | Eliminated: Preliminary Final
2024 PICKS: 13, 29, 36, 50
FUTURE PICKS: PA R2, PA R3, PA R4
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Benny Barrett (NGA) 

FIRST PICK:
Pick 13

Port Adelaide is well poised to either pick a slider out of the top 10 or address one of it’s long-term list needs in key position depth. Links to tall forwards like Jack Whitlock and Jobe Shanahan have been strong, the latter of whom can play at either end of the ground.

Richmond is also said to be interested in Whitlock with picks 10 and 11, while Shanahan is a player who clubs will likely trade in for should he be available past Port’s pick. Arguably the draft’s top tall forward, Harry Armstrong would also be hard to pass up, but is firmly in top 10 calculations.

Melbourne, St Kilda and Richmond are all said to be keen on the Sandringham Dragons product, who has topped goalkicking charts across just about every level he played over the last two seasons. Port may also be forced to reach for Jonty Faull given the high demand for talls in a midfield-heavy crop.

Outside of the key position talent, Bo Allan and Tobie Travaglia are in high demand right among Port’s hitting zone. Smalls like Joe Berry and Taj Hotton may also provide the right amount of forward half flair, while Jesse Dattoli has plenty of talent, but may be a bit of a stretch so early.

Similar can be said for Xavier Lindsay, who like Travaglia would provide good dash off half-back or the wing to start his career – especially after the exit of Houston. Another scenario to consider would be a bid on Essendon NGA star Isaac Kako, though that may already be called out further up the order.

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 29, 36, 50

A great scenario for Port would be to take a utility like Allan or Travaglia with their first pick, while still having a key forward like Faull on the board at 29. There will more likely be other available talls in that range and at pick 36 though, namely Thomas Sims, Kayle Gerreyn, Noah Mraz, and Harry O’Farrell.

The variety within that section of the draft means the world is Port’s oyster. Defenders like Harrison Oliver and Angus Clarke make sense, as do the likes of Hamish Davis and Oliver Hannaford in the front half. Maybe even a couple of sliders in Christian Moraes and Tom Gross will warrant a look.

Perhaps a little further down the order, Josh Dolan and Will Hayes are smalls who run great patterns and make things happen at ground level or going forward. Port targeted that type of player last year, and have access to another in Benny Barrett via Next Generation Academy eligibility – likely as a rookie.

Expected to make three or four selections, the Power have access to their future second, third and fourth round selections to help manufacture any trades up the order. A trio of father-son hopefuls have been overlooked, but Oliver Francou will link up with the club’s SANFL side next year.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– Will Port Adelaide target a key forward with its first pick?
– Will a bid come in for NGA talent Benny Barrett?
– Will other clubs consider Port’s overlooked father-son prospects?