AFTER missing finals for two consecutive years, Port Adelaide big man Jackson Trengove says the club needs to make some serious positional changes. 

The Power made finals in Ken Hinkley's first two years as coach and looked on the verge of an exciting era after its young squad pushed Hawthorn to the brink in the 2014 preliminary final. 

Since then though, the club has finished ninth and 10th in disappointing campaigns. 

Speaking to reporters at a charity car wash on Saturday, Trengove said something drastic needed to be done about the poor results. 

The club has trialed Trengove spending more time in the forward line. A move to the midfield looms for Chad Wingard and Hamish Hartlett's kicking skills will be used out of the back half. 

"There are going to be some changes this year. We've got to change something. We weren't good enough last year and this year we're changing it up, and so far it's working," Trengove said.

Paddy Ryder's return after serving a season-long doping suspension as part of the 'Essendon 34' has allowed Trengove to move out of the ruck. The former Bomber only played the first half in Friday's intraclub match.

"All the boys were a bit rusty for their first hit-out. The first half you're blowing out the cobwebs and then I thought the second half you start to get in the groove again. Paddy missed that second half but his jumping was terrific," Trengove said. 

"He was up nice and high and was moving around the ground no worries. He has all pre-season, he hasn't missed a beat really." 

Port starts its JLT Series campaign on Thursday night against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, before facing Richmond and Hawthorn. 

Trengove said the club was focused on winning its pre-season matches to give it a springboard into round one. 

"We go out every week to win. You can trial a few things but we'll be taking it pretty seriously to get some good form going into the season," he said.