IMMEDIATELY after Port Adelaide's semi-final loss to Geelong, the Power's All Australian skipper Travis Boak delivered a clear but important message to his teammates.
Going backwards in 2014 wasn't an option.
This week veteran Dom Cassisi and first-time All Australian Chad Wingard have both talked up the importance of the next few months, as the Power look to hit the ground at full pace on day one of pre-season.
"This is where we belong now, we don't want to go backwards form here," Boak said.
"That's what I spoke about straight after the game and Ken (Hinkley) was the same in the rooms and 'Kochie' (David Koch) also had a bit of a chat as well.
"We want to be a part of September a lot now and what's important now is these next 10 weeks.
"This group has been through so much over the last four or five years and we don't want to go back to that position again and after tasting success in the finals that we've played this year, the guys are really driven to get back there again."
Boak admitted his side would become the 'hunted' next season, after spending the vast majority of the last six years hunting the rest of the competition.
Despite the Power's fitness serving as a significant weapon in 2013, the skipper said it would have to improve again next year.
Port finished its home and away season as the second best finishing team in the AFL, winning 15 of its 22 fourth quarters.
Boak pointed to Geelong's superior tackling ability and contested possession advantage in the semi-final as areas in need of addressing.
"We were hunting teams this year and I guess teams will probably come after us a bit more now that we've made that improvement," Boak said.
"We've just got to go to another level in our fitness again, we'll probably miss out on two weeks of pre-season because we played in the finals and teams will come back, so they'll have a bit of an edge there.
"I think we can always take our skills to another level, that second half against Geelong our contested possession and tackle was what they beat us with.
"The list goes on because the Geelongs and Hawthorns of the competition, they're always improving as well so you can't stop."
The Power delisted seven players on Tuesday, four from their senior list including midfielder Matt Thomas and key forward Daniel Stewart.
Young Brisbane Lions midfielder Jared Polec has told the club he'd like to be traded home to South Australia and both Ken Hinkley and Brenton Sanderson have expressed their interest in the 20-year-old.
Boak said he hadn't spoken to Polec yet but that he might get in touch with him "over the next couple of days".
Regardless of what happens at the trade table or on draft night, the skipper insisted the core group was already in place to see the Power eventually challenge the AFL's top four.
"I certainly think we've got the group to go forward and hopefully challenge for the top four and go further from there," Boak said.
"Our club's been so good at not only drafting quality talent, but some quality people as well who are great ambassadors for the club.
"I'm not sure about who will come into this group…as long as they're quality people."
