OFF THE field, coach Mark Williams gave blood this week in support of Port Adelaide’s Red Cross drive, but on the field he expects plenty of the red stuff to be spilled as the club’s March 20 season opener draws closer.
With just three weeks remaining before the Power’s first internal trial of the year Williams said the intensity at training was “flat out.”
“We’re fully into crash and bash footy. There have been some cut heads and some sore bodies, but January is very much that way in terms of physicality and you’re really building up to the start in February.”
The Power will open their pre-season campaign against Carlton on February 16 at AAMI Stadium. Under new rules introduced especially for the NAB Cup, clubs will be able to field eight interchange players, but will be restricted to 16 interchanges per quarter.
While Williams wasn’t keen on limiting interchanges during the regular season, he said the extended NAB Cup bench would provide greater opportunity for the Power’s younger players.
“Because we finished so late last year and we had a lesser pre-season, we’ll probably give some of the young guys a go,” Williams said.
“The senior guys certainly won’t play as many minutes in the NAB Cup as what they would normally during the season.
“The NAB Cup competition is a time to get guys ready to play and a time to put in place things you’ve been working on during training.”
Last year both Nathan Krakouer and Adam Cockshell earned round one AFL debuts after wowing the coaching staff with impressive internal trial and NAB Cup performances.
Krakouer, who some teammates doubted would ever play an AFL game, overcame his slight 66kg frame to go on and play 11 games for the Power in his first season.
“There’s no doubt about it as far as I’m concerned,” Williams said when asked if the NAB Cup was an audition for the premiership season.
“You stake a claim on a spot by training well and showing that you know what’s going on. That gets you a game in the NAB Cup and from there, if you play well, you stay in the side.
“Obviously we don’t drop guys who are playing well and if they play well they will be in the side come round one.
One player who is desperate to play in round one is Warren Tredrea.
The four-time All-Australian is relishing the opportunity to train with his teammates after two years of nagging knee injuries.
No decision has been made on who will captain Port Adelaide in 2008, but on Tuesday, Williams gave the best indication yet that Tredrea will retain the mantle.
“A decision on the captaincy is still a few weeks off,” Williams said.
“But if you’ve watched any training, Tredders is so far in front of where he was last year, he’s almost a different person. I’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t have a really good year in 2008.”
One appointment the club is hopeful of announcing this week is Darren Burgess’ replacement.
The former Power fitness coach will say goodbye to Alberton next week and pack his bags to begin his new role as the Socceroos’ fitness guru.
“It’s a difficult time given the Christmas period when a lot of people are on holidays, but we had an interview actually on New Years Eve and we had some people interview from over in South Africa who work with the rugby,” Williams said.
“Within the week I think we’ll make an announcement.”
