TOM JONAS has branded Port Adelaide complacent, continuing the flood of home truths flowing out of Alberton Oval.
After two years of stunning improvement that saw the club rocket from 14th on the ladder in 2012 to fifth in coach Ken Hinkley's first year and then third last season, the Power have slumped in 2015.
Why has Port Adelaide dropped off the pace?
Narrow wins over Hawthorn and Adelaide were quickly followed by a poor loss at home against West Coast and they were then found out by the Brisbane Lions last weekend.
Hinkley and Port skipper Travis Boak both condemned the playing group's work ethic, and on Tuesday leadership group member Jonas admitted the Power had gotten ahead of themselves.
The darlings of the football world believed the hype: Port's natural improvement from last year would see it challenge for the flag.
Jonas knows footy doesn't work like that.
"We've probably felt that the improvement we've had in the last 18 months was just going to continue, whereas we need to keep working as hard as we were [over that] 18 months," Jonas said.
"That hasn't happened; the rest of the competition's catching up and our improvement hasn't been there.
"We've just got to remember that finishing fourth or making the eight – that's not success, the only success in the AFL is winning a flag.
"We went away from that a little bit."
Port's trademark last year was its ability to reel sides in late in games; the Power were ranked first for fourth quarters won in 2014.
This year they're ranked last.
Jonas didn't think his side's fitness was the issue in 2015, it was an inability to execute the game plan.
"If you don't win the ball it's hard to let your fitness do the talking," he said.
"The data says we're doing plenty of work; if you look at the games we win we're probably running a little bit less.
"The defensive games, when you're chasing arse a bit is when you run more.
"It's about getting your hands on the ball and pushing it forward, getting it in your half and locking it in."
The team's ability to win first possession would be aided by the return of Ollie Wines from a wrist injury.
Wines is expected to prove his fitness this week and take his place in the side that faces Richmond on Sunday.
The Power will also welcome Alipate Carlile back after a week's rest with back tightness.
