Leading from the front, from left, Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak, coach Ken Hinkley and classy midfielder Hamish Hartlett. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia
A QUICK glance at the Port Adelaide squad and you immediately recognise it is a list on the improve, boasting genuine quality in all departments — front, back and everywhere in between.
It has leg speed to burn with the introduction of Jared Polec and Matt White.
It is well served with goalscoring options with a front six the envy of many.
SCROLL DOWN FOR BONE'S POWER SELECTIONS FOR ROUND 1
The defence, albeit slightly undermanned for round one with the likely absence of Jackson Trengove and Alipate Carlile, has a hard-yet-creative edge to it.
Then there's the midfield.
An embarrassment of riches led by one of the game's very best in Travis Boak.
Ollie Wines and Justin Westhoff are set to commit their future to Port Adelaide by signing new deals, while coach Ken Hinkley expects a trio of key players to all return from injury in time for the opening round.
Weaknesses are few.
It is here where Ken Hinkley's team is elite in every sense of the word.
Beyond the brilliance of Boak lies the class of Brad Ebert, the competitive spirit of Kane Cornes, the power of Ollie Wines, the beauty of Hamish Hartlett, the persistence of Matthew Broadbent, the grace of Robbie Gray and the sublime talents of Chad Wingard.
Throw in Polec and White and suddenly there's a 10-man "pack" as good as it gets.
Some are still to reach their full potential but it is there., make no mistake.
It is the stuff premiership teams are built on and while the Power's time is not now, in 12 months' time it could be a different story.
Selecting the 22 for round one against Carlton at the Dome will not be a simple one for Ken Hinkley and his assistants. Not so much for who to pick but for who to leave out.
Trengove and Carlile will miss after interrupted preseason campaigns but it will not create the disruption it would have 18 months ago.
Tom Jonas and Jack Hombsch will fill the void on the Blues tall forwards in Waite, Warnock and Matthew Kreuzer while Tom Clurey has earned the right to help the cause for his 1st game at the highest level.
Team defence will be a key for the Power in the season opener.
Amazingly, Cam O'Shea, Andrew Moore and Jarman Impey could all be watching from the sidelines, so talented and healthy is this list.
TRIAL MATCH: POWER EDGES OUT IMPROVED SAINTS
Solid defence and a quality midfield aside, it's in attack where the Power will cause the most headaches.
The diversity and sheer brilliance of their forwards is a credit to the club's recruiters that pulled them together.
Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff and John Butcher are a unique mix of marking ability, goal sense and freakish talents that if sound will take some stopping.
Throw in Angus Monfries, Wingard and Gray and you have an attack as diverse as any in the game, capable of breaking the 20 goal barrier against almost any opposition.
Naturally it won't be that easy.
There will be unforeseen challenges for the Power in 2014 but make no mistake this is a club on the rise.
Lase season was no flash in the pan. No one-hit wonder. No freak of nature. No luxury draw.
Game one is a game that should be won.
Finals are a legitimate goal that should be reached.
Top four is a dream that may not be achieved in 2014 but the foundation can be set, the bodies can be prepared and the confidence can be built for the seasons to come.
BONE'S BEST POWER 22 FOR ROUND 1
Forwards: Westhoff, Butcher, Wingard
Half-forwards: Monfries, Schulz, Stewart
Centre: Hartlett, Boak, Polec
Half-backs: Ebert, Jonas, Broadbent
Backs: Cassisi, Hombsch, Clurey
Ruck: Lobbe, Wines, Cornes
Interchange: Gray, Renouf, Pittard
Sub: White
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