Port Adelaide begins its pre-season campaign on Monday as it looks to rise up the ladder under Josh Carr.
The Power’s first to four year players will report for duty at Alberton, with a number of older players also expected to come to pre-season early.
After a bottom four finish in Carr’s first season in charge in 2026, here are some of the key storylines for the Power ahead of its 2027 campaign.
How is Connor Rozee’s hamstring?
The Power is adamant that Rozee’s recovery from the serious hamstring injury he sustained in round 2, and the subsequent nerve issue is progressing well.
But given he sustained it in March and last month went over to England to work with a specialist in these sorts of injuries, there are those who are holding some concerns for the Power skipper.
Rozee has been in at Alberton consistently during the off-season ramping up his running, and is said to be moving very well.
But for a player whose speed is such an important part of his game, just how Rozee is moving in pre-season is still going to be a big watch when it comes to the Power.
Can Jase Burgoyne fill the Butters hole?
The Power’s big injury list did give Carr a chance, or forced him, to move the magnets around with the form of Burgoyne as a midfielder towards the end of the season a big bright spark for Port.
The son of 2004 premiership winner Peter ended the year on an absolute tear with 34 disposals against Sydney and then 30 and two goals in the win over Essendon.
He still may need to put some more size on, but Burgoyne showed an ability to win the ball and cause damage with it on the inside.
The Power now have a Zak Butters’ sized hole in its midfield after he returned to Victoria to join the Western Bulldogs.
A fit Rozee should go straight into the midfield upon his return to footy, while Miles Bergman also could get more time in there.
But Power fans will be crying out for Burgoyne to get a sustained run in there after his end to 2026.
What can Jason Horne-Francis do with a full pre-season?
It wasn’t the ideal way for the Power to start pre-season last year when Horne-Francis re-injured his foot and limped off the track.
He had to have surgery planned on it expedited and had his pre-season interrupted, which was seen as a potentially big blow for his chances of having a good 2026 season.
But despite this, Horne-Francis had a breakout year in which he elevated his game to that of an elite midfielder and won his first John Cahill Medal as the Power’s best and fairest.
So if he can do that off a interrupted pre-season, what could he do in 2027 if he gets a clear run at it?
He will probably have to learn how to deal with a tag now Butters is gone, but the possibilities for the former No. 1 draft pick are very exciting for the Power.
Who partners Aliir Aliir down back?
The Power ended the season with Dante Visentini and Harrison Ramm as its key defensive partnership in the win over Essendon.
One of them looks set to have a big opportunity to get a consistent role in the side in 2027, with Esava Ratugolea to miss a fair chunk of the year because of his knee injury, while Brandon Zerk-Thatcher appears to be on the outer.
Ramm was extremely impressive last pre-season, but needs to improve his kicking.
Visentini started the year as the Power’s No. 1 ruck option, but showed some promise as a key defender at the end of the year and with Jordon Sweet’s outstanding 2026 that is potentially how the young tall can find a roll in Carr’s side.
Originally published as The big Port Adelaide questions ahead of pre-season training for 2027