CLEANER skills are being demanded at Alberton as Port Adelaide looks to fulfill lofty expectations in season 2015.

 

The Power have entered the third of a three-year plan under coach Ken Hinkley and high performance manager Darren Burgess that has so far produced spectacular results.

 

The job, though, is far from done.

 

Although Port ranked second offensively and third defensively last year, its disposal efficiency ranked a lowly 16th – ahead of only Collingwood and Gold Coast.

 

After training for more than two hours on Monday morning vice captain Brad Ebert pointed to last year's preliminary final against Hawthorn as proof of where the Power's game required tightening.

  

"Last year in the finals there was that patch where Hawthorn were able to get away from us, so I guess it's just being able to close down those areas," Ebert said.

 

"Teams always get momentum … but it's just being able to minimise those momentum shifts … to close down a game if we need but then also being able to open it out.

 

"Therefore skills is another one that we're continually working on."

 

Ebert said his own skills – specifically his kicking - also needed some fine-tuning.

 

The 24-year-old's love for the hard ball doesn't often allow him the time and space to perfectly execute his kicks.

 

At 68.3 per cent, his disposal efficiency last year rated on par with the likes of fellow ball-winners Dion Prestia (Suns), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions), Luke Parker (Sydney Swans) and Lachie Neale (Fremantle).  

 

But he said there was still room for improvement.

 

"Around stoppages I feel like I can still continue to work and just being able to read the ball off the hands," he said.

 

"I feel like my kicking has improved a lot but it's always an area I can continue to work on … it's not at that top level."

 

Key defender Jackson Trengove joined Ebert at training on Monday, a significant step in his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.

 

Trengove ran laps for the first time since surgery last month.

 

He remains a strong chance to play against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium in round one on April 5.