After two successive seasons of preliminary final appearances, season 2022 didn't go according to plan for Port Adelaide. Marred by an 0-5 start, the Power were left to play catchup, and eventually their finals hopes diminished at the hands of Richmond in Round 21.
Despite not exceeding lofty expectations, there was a definitive promise with young stars making the next leap, including Connor Rozee who went on to make his maiden All-Australian appearance, Sam Powell-Pepper in his hybrid role as a forward/midfielder, and Todd Marshall coming of age as a young key forward.
And of course, the usual A-grade superstars in Travis Boak and Ollie Wines giving it their all week in and week out.
With the pressure cooker firmly on coach Ken Hinkley as he enters his 11th season in charge, the Power hope to avoid last season's shaky start to get on the right note this Saturday against premiership contenders Brisbane at Adelaide Oval.
Here are five burning questions surrounding Port Adelaide's hopes in 2023.
5. Do the Power have what it takes to make the top 8?
It's the question you ask any Power supporter and they'll say an emphatic yes to a finals appearance.
Optimism for a bounce-back year is on the cards, but dealing with a legitimate pack of nine other finalists is another obstacle to climb over. On paper, the Power have the weapons to hurt sides on any given day, from Ollie Wines' midfield supremacy, the ageless Travis Boak, a posing set of tall forwards in Todd Marshall, Mitch Georgiades, and Charlie Dixon, and a resilient back six led by Tom Jonas, which does its job without receiving the plaudits.
Add in the exciting play of Connor Rozee, hard nut Zak Butters, fearless interceptor Aliir Aliir, wrecking-ball ruckman Scott Lycett, and the even consistency of Ryan Burton, Dan Houston, and Darcy Byrne-Jones, Port have players to count upon when the stakes are high.
What it can't afford to fall into is another 0-5 hole. With the evenness of the competition, the most minor of slip-ups is likely to be a mountain too much to overcome.
The opening month is going to show whether Port has the mantle with tricky encounters against Brisbane, Collingwood, Adelaide, Sydney, and the Western Bulldogs. If it can pass those litmus tests with flying colours, then the Port will be set nicely to cause further inroads.
