PORT Adelaide premiership player Josh Carr says the team is still optimistic about playing finals this season, particularly as the Power has six of its last nine home-and-away matches at AAMI Stadium.
Speaking post-match after the Power's 34-point loss to Geelong at Skilled Stadium on Sunday, Carr said his side could soon bounce back into the top eight after spending the past two rounds in the bottom half of the table.
"Every game we go in to play, we play to win, and if we can win most of those games at home and steal one or two away, then you're playing finals," he told portadelaidefc.com.au.
"We won't be looking too far ahead – Brisbane is the first one next week at home and they had a pretty good win [against Melbourne], so we'll have to take it up to them."
Carr said the match against the Cats was frustrating, considering Port won the second and final quarters, but kicked a combined total of two goals to 13 in the first and third terms.
"It was [frustrating], but they are a great side and you've got to give them that. They came out and kicked too many goals than what we wanted them to – especially in the first quarter and we gave them a head start," he said.
"The important thing for us is that we never gave up, unlike the [match against the] Western Bulldogs, where some players, you could say did give up. This was a stepping stone, although we lost the game.
"We've got to move on and now worry about Brisbane."
Despite the loss, Carr said there were some positives and he was also pleased with his 16 touches and two goals.
"It was good. I played half-forward and got a couple of goals and did a few little things. For myself, it was a stepping stone," he said.
"I want to have a lot better second half of the year than I did in the first half of the year.
"I was pretty disappointed with my first half of the year, so I've worked pretty hard to have a good second half of the year."
Although a favourite at Alberton, Carr conceded some acclimatisation was still needed after four seasons with Fremantle from 2005-08, on the back of playing in a premiership for the Power in 2004.
He lost his place in the midfield before round six this season and, after time in the SANFL, earned a recall against the Swans in round nine.
"It's not exactly the same. We've got new players and you've got to get used to their habits and I feel that I'm on the right track and my body is better now – I didn't feel as great in the first half of the year," he said.
"I'm probably a bit fresher than a lot of other guys at this time of the year."
Carr said it was hard to compare the past with the present at Port Adelaide.
"Back in the day, we were a dominant team and every week we played, we won pretty much," he said.
"It's a different side with a young side – they're developing and learning and I'm just happy to be playing alongside those guys and trying to teach them what it was like in the older days to be in a winning, consistent side."
