Port Adelaide's recruiting has left new captain Connor Rozee bullish about rebounding from last year's straight-sets AFL finals exit.
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It's been a busy off-season at Alberton, with Rozee taking over from Tom Jonas as captain in December and signing an eight-year deal.
They've moved into their new headquarters after a major redevelopment, while former captain Warren Tredrea - a high-profile critic of coach Ken Hinkley early last season - has joined the Power board after an eventful election campaign.
Port also went to work in the trade period, recruiting defenders Esava Ratugolea (Geelong) and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Essendon) and ruckmen Ivan Soldo (Richmond) and Jordon Sweet (Western Bulldogs, SANFL).
"We clearly had a few things at the end of last year that probably needed to be filled," Rozee said.
"We brought in a couple of key defenders ... and a couple of ruckmen, with Scotty Lycett hanging up the boots.
"So in terms of our squad, I think we have everything we need to get us to that next step. The thing is with this competition is you can't just rock up and expect it to happen, though."
Rozee added Friday's intraclub hit-out would be an important marker for the Power.
"It is just a way to try some things that you have been working on in the off-season and to see where you are at," he said.
"The challenge is to get that full 100 per cent game intensity so we can really learn what works and what doesn't.
"We have been trying to drive that around the club - this is an important building block."
Rozee said there had not been too many adjustments to be made as captain so far, other than "a few uncomfortable conversations" as he drives standards.
He looks forward to picking Tredrea's brain about the captaincy role.
"He sent me a message when I was first awarded the captaincy, which was really nice, and so did a lot of the other (past) captains," Rozee said.
"There are heaps of people who have reached out to me and I've reached out to them, to get a few pointers.
"He's no different and I'm sure he'll have some valuable insights along the way, I can ask him a few questions."
Australian Associated Press
