Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley admits it is the lacking piece of his on-field jigsaw: a giant backman to counter towering forwards.
“We have tried to fix most of our areas of concern,” Hinkley informed AAP.
“And other than the tall back that we did go after and didn’t get, most of the things we were able to achieve were pretty exciting.”
Hinkley recruited to bolster his midfield (Jason Horne-Francis) and small forwards (Junior Rioli).
But efforts to lure a tall backman – notably Esava Ratugolea from Geelong – have been unsuccessful.
But Hinkley’s lacking piece may very well be discovered from inside, in keeping with Aliir Aliir.
Aliir, at 195cm, is the tallest of Port’s key defensive batch that includes Tom Jonas (188cm) and Tom Clurey (193cm).
Aliir, regardless of being famend as an intercept defender, is volunteering for the duty of quelling large opposition forwards akin to Geelong’s Tom Hawkins and Carlton’s Harry McKay.
“We were able to do that towards the back-end of last year where I was able to go on the No.1 forward and try and shut them down,” Aliir stated in Perth on Tuesday.
“When I did come back from injury, I told them (coaching staff) I am not just an intercept player because that is what everyone thought, I would just fly across.
“But I can play that one-on-one. I can play tall and small.
“So I have always told Ken, whatever you need me to do, I’m happy to do it.
“It’s as much as the match committee whether or not they discover me enjoying on their No.1 or (as) that intercept participant, however so long as we’re getting wins I do not actually care the place I play.”
Aliir was an All Australian in 2021, his first season at Port after spending five seasons with Sydney.
But last year he had surgery on an ankle injury suffered in round one and, while playing 19 games, struggled to hit peak form.
“My type, I used to be actually up-and-down,” he stated.
“Just the inconsistency, often you attempt to maintain it to a minimal however mine was most likely simply an excessive amount of of a wave and a niche.
“I am feeling good now, I was able to complete the full preseason with no dramas.”
Port’s preseason continues in Perth with a apply recreation towards Fremantle on Thursday, after the Power misplaced a trial match to West Coast by eight factors final Friday.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
