After emerging as a shock trade option midway through this year's exchange window, Port Adelaide recruit Corey Durdin is impressing on the track at Alberton in the wake of his Carlton exit.
The South Australian hadn't been on the radar as a potential player on the move until the week of his switch back home, with the Power coming to the table to secure a deal that involved both Carlton and Gold Coast.
The trade opened the door for a fresh start for Durdin, who managed 64 games across his five seasons in navy blue, including 16 appearances in 2025.
Both injury and form limited the small forward's exposure, while Carlton was home to a large crop of goal-sneaks looking to cement their place in the senior side.
With Port Adelaide's own small forward stocks undergoing change over the off-season as Willie Rioli called time on his career and both Jed McEntee and Dylan Williams were delisted, a void had opened at the Power that Durdin has since filled.
Rioli was one of just two Power players to kick at least 20 goals this year, and was the sole small forward to reach that mark, with defender-turned-forward Darcy Byrne-Jones the next best with 19 majors from 22 games.
Durdin, who kicked 14 goals from 16 games in 2025 after returning from an ankle injury early into the season, could be first-year coach Josh Carr's leading ground-level threat next year, working at the feet of breakout forward Mitch Georgiades and supporting talls Jack Lukosius and Ollie Lord.
Durdin's pre-season to date has buoyed Carr with optimism, with the Golden Grove junior impressing his new coach in a short period of time.
"So far in the pre-season, he's been very, very good," coach Josh Carr told the club's media arm.
"He's quite dynamic in the forward 50 and is a really smart player.
"I think he'll add some really good firepower up forward for us."
Durdin is one of four new faces at Port Adelaide, with ex-Dockers midfielder Will Brodie, GWS free agent Jacob Wehr and SANFL-listed midfielder Jack Watkins adding to the list.
Having identified the wings as an area of concern early in his tenure, Carr sees Wehr as a key cog on the flank who can complement the Power's inside ball winners.
"The wings have been an area for us that we haven't quite nailed with the players," Carr said.
"Jase Burgoyne is one who has held one of those wing positions through the year, and 'Boaky' was in and out the last two years and held that other wing position.
"We brought in Jacob to fill a role there."
Brodie and Watkins join a long list of midfielders who will compete for minutes in the middle, with that pack headlined by Zak Butters, Connor Rozee, Jason Horne-Francis, Ollie Wines, Willem Drew and Miles Bergman.
The latter was a shining light for the Power in 2025, making the move into midfield after years of developing as an intercepting and rebounding defender.
Bergman's versatility will allow Carr to utilise the Victorian across all three lines, with Ken Hinkley's successor even flagging a potential move forward for Bergman as a forward target.
"I'm looking forward to Miles spending more time on ball and playing a more solid midfield role," Carr added.
"That doesn't mean we won't use him back at times... I just think for what we need as a team, he's great defensively, and he's got great power to go forward.
"He could be an asset out of the goal-square, a little bit like Jase Horne-Francis. I could see those guys working well together.
"He's got great weapons and a big kick on him, can get the ball inside 50. I'm looking forward to seeing that evolve."
The Carr era at Port Adelaide will get underway against North Melbourne in Round 1 at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, March 15.
