PORT ADELAIDE coach Mark Williams is on the hunt for out of contract players to join the Power next season.

Williams signalled his intent to court recycled players following Port Adelaide’s disappointing 28-point loss to Fremantle and did not take a backwards step at Alberton on Monday.

Sunday’s loss all but assured the Power of a place in the bottom four, and Williams said it was important for the club to capitalise on time served in the murky depths of the ladder by recruiting strongly this year.

“We’ve had some great calls from a few player managers today and it’s fantastic to think there are players out there who are interested in coming to Port,” Williams said.

“When you finish towards the bottom you need to make the most of those [recruiting] opportunities and when you think of the best uncontracted players out there and those names, you think, gee, wouldn’t they slot very nicely into our side? I’m sure we’ve got room in our salary cap.”

The Power have several uncontracted players of their own looking for new deals beyond this season. In-form ruckman Dean Brogan is believed to be looking for a longer-term contract than the one currently on the table, but Williams was “very confident” the premiership player would remain with Port Adelaide.

“Broges and I talk quite often about the whole range of things and I’m sure we’ll get to talk about that [his contract],” he said.

“He knows the position of the club. He’s certainly a required player and one that week after week, we see greater things from.”

Williams confirmed injured skipper Warren Tredrea would be offered a new contract, but was less optimistic about club favourite Michael Wilson.

Wilson, 31, is often referred to as the ‘heart and soul’ of the Port Adelaide Football Club, but is stranded on 192 AFL games and has suffered another setback with his troublesome knee.

Williams said the vice-captain’s contribution to the club would be one of the “major considerations” in determining whether he plays on next season.

“As a senior coach, you fall in love with your players and certainly the ones that have been here for a long time,” Williams said.

“Wilbur touches every level of our club and it is difficult when those sorts of players are coming towards the end of their career, especially when they’re injured because it makes it even tougher for them.

“The knee situation is difficult for Wilbur. It hasn’t worked as nicely as we’d hoped. We hoped he’d play a couple of games in the SANFL and then push himself back up. We have to let his knee have some sort of recovery time and then give him the chance to [push his way back up] by the end of the year.

“There’s one thing for sure, he’ll always be remembered for what he’s done for our club. If this is it [the end of his career], then he’s certainly got everything out of his body that he possibly could have.”

Peter Burgoyne, 30, is another member of the inaugural Port Adelaide squad who is out of contract at season’s end.

Burgoyne played for the Port Adelaide Magpies on Saturday after being suspended by the Power leadership group for turning up to a recovery session in an ‘unfit manner’.

Williams said the running half-back was no certainty to resume this week, but was likely to remain at Alberton beyond this year.

“Peter has been one of our great players and you make a couple of blues along the way in a 12-year career,” he said.

“You can’t hang him for it and we certainly won’t do that. I work closely with Peter and in general terms you’d have to say we’ve got brilliant results from him. He’s part of the group and we have to treat him as part of the group, but we look forward to him coming back into our side.”