With pre-season right around the corner, Port Adelaide senior coach Josh Carr knows there are several areas the Power need to improve in if they wish to re-establish themselves as premiership contenders in 2026.
It has seen a significant list and coaching overhaul take place following the Power's disappointing 2025 campaign, which saw the club rank 14th in points allowed, 15th in points for and 10th in clearances - just 12 months on from ranking 3rd, 8th and 7th in those respective categories.
In a press conference on Thursday, Carr hinted at potential changes to shore up these areas, planning to leave no stone unturned. It includes the superstar midfield mix of Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis, who have been dominant for the Alberton-based outfit but still have a lot of potential to be tapped into in areas outside the centre square.
"We haven't been great in the contest in the last couple of years, but I think there's a lot of growth that could be taken there," Carr said.
"Us winning and losing isn't going to depend on those three guys [Rozee, Butters, Horne-Francis]. It's going to depend on every player performing their role.
"The main thing that I care about is what they're doing for the team, and what their role is within the team, and that they're playing that and helping us."
While Carr didn't go into specifics, a changing gameplan to focus on greater score from turnover could see changes to the back line and engine room as Port Adelaide prepare to become more solid defensively next year.
The Power ranked 15th in scores from turnover this year and were only above league average in scores from centre bounce, ranking in the bottom five for scores originating in both their forward and defensive half.
“There's growth [to come] in all areas of our game. Defensively, I feel that we have to tighten up," Carr said.
"If you looked at premiership teams, defensively, they're always really strong. Does that mean we're just going to be a defensive team? Not at all.
"We've got to score off the turnover, but at the same time, if we've got to take the contest, we've got to take it.
"Ball movement wise, I'm probably one that has a bit more balance in the way that we play. There's got to be more than one avenue towards goals."
Carr also spoke on the growing speculation regarding the future of Butters, whose contract is set to expire following the 2026 season. Being his first season at the helm of Port Adelaide, Carr knows it's up to him to create the most enticing environment possible to retain Butters for the foreseeable future.
"It's about creating the environment that the players don't want to leave, and if they leave, it's the hardest decision they've ever had to make in their life," Carr said on his role in Butters' looming contract call.
"I want the culture of this football club [to be] such a great culture that everyone wants to be here and if you decide to leave, then the right reasons are there."
With the bizarre succession year now in the books, the reigns of Port Adelaide are firmly in Carr's grasp as he looks to quickly right the teal ship.
Time will tell how his style translates against the AFL's elite but with some of the league's most damaging stars at his disposal, there's a good chance the Power can find themselves amid September action once again next year - if they buy in to his system.
“For me, it's not really about change... It's about me being in charge of my style and presenting that to everyone, and then getting buy-in," Carr said.
"[We'll get] the collective thoughts around what the game plan is, and the coaches [will make] it better. There's a license for everyone in this building to explore and make everything better. And in the end, whoever's got the best ideas, we make that work.”
