Over already?

Let me preface this by saying that I believe the Port Adelaide team of 2007 was one of the ten worst of all time to ever appear in a Grand final. They were the fourth best team in the competition and only reached the grand final because of some last second madness in matches against Hawthorn and Geelong, Collingwood being in the wrong side of the finals draw, and West Coast being raped by injuries to Judd, Cousins, Kerr and Hansen. Fans and media recognized this fact, and although expectations for Port Adelaide this year were high, they were also tempered. Port were expected to contend for top four, and push for top two with some luck. Either way they were considered a lock for finals. Four weeks in and four devastating losses later the Power's season might already be over. Can they turn their fortunes around? Let's see.

For any team to rebound from 0-4 and make the 8 they must have a pretty talented list and team. The Power midfield is one of quickest most skilled in the competition. They have the best ruck duo in the league (Brendon Lade and Dean Brogan), the best two-way midfielder in the league (Kane Cornes) and the two of the silkiest players in the league the Burgoyne brothers. Throw in hard worker Dominic Cassisi, the electric Danyle Pearce and the league's number one swingman hot-head Chad Cornes, and you've got an elite midfield. The defence is suspect, headed by reliable Toby Thurstans and backed up by a number of youngsters. The forward 50 has dead-weight leader Warren Tredrea, perennially underrated Brad Ebert, young prodigy Justin Westhoff, mental basket case/occasional superstar Daniel Motlop, and a rotating midfielder and you've got an adequate forward line.

On paper the team isn't as good as you might initially suspect, but it's nonetheless a list capable of playing finals. The team is built around a fantastic nucleus of the Cornes, Burgoyne and Ruck brothers - everyone else is a supporting act. That nucleus carried Port to a grand final last year. Things have changed this year though, the competition is greater. Whereas last year you had (Geelong aside) only three legitimate contenders - West Coast, Collingwood and Port - this year you have a hell of a lot more. Collingwood have improved, Hawthorn has taken the next step, the Bulldogs are a force, St. Kilda is healthy and Adelaide and Sydney are rejuvenated. Right there you have six teams competing with Geelong for a flag, throw in the unpredictable Brisbane and Fremantle and you have a heated finals race. Merely being decent, as Port were last year, won't get the job done in 2008.

From their induction into the league to the present day Port have branded the label of soft. Their perennial finals choking is well remembered. The current team is one that relies on speed and finesse, not toughness and hard work. The same went for the wasted dynasty of the early 21st century. Port Adelaide are a football club that has always relied on skill. Skill doesn't win premierships, it helps, but something greater is required. The Bombers of 2000 were a force that intimidated teams into defeat with run, toughness and punishing scores. The Lions of 2001-2003 were an incredible physical force that dominated teams with their toughness and strength. Sydney of 2005 were a structured team that lived and died on trust and work ethic. The enduring image of the 2006 West Coast Eagles premiership team is Daniel Kerr's desperation gut-busting run in the dying seconds of the Grand Final.

Port Adelaide of 2004 won a premiership because they had Byron Pickett and Damien Hardwick - two catalysts that demanded toughness from teammates and loved the physical contest. Port were respectable in week one against the Cats, week two against Sydney they were intimidated into submission by pressure, week three they were out-hustled by Adelaide, and last night - the worst loss yet - they simply choked. That's the only possible excuse for conceding a 47 point 3rd quarter lead in wet weather.

Next week the Power have an excellent opportunity to right the ship. They travel away to an equally disoriented West Coast - a team without Matthew Priddis and David Wirrapanda (and yeah, Cousins and Judd too). A win at Subiaco could give Port the boost to get a bit of form going. And I suspect Mark Williams at this stage would take any victory he could get. In conclusion, no the winless four weeks have not doomed Port Adelaide to the bottom eight, but it is equally clear that this team does not - and has never - have what it takes to win a premiership.