a number of older players also expected to come to pre-season early<\/a>. <\/p>\nAfter a bottom four finish in Carr\u2019s first season in charge in 2026, here are some of the key storylines for the Power ahead of its 2027 campaign. <\/p>\n
How is Connor Rozee\u2019s hamstring? <\/p>\n
The Power is adamant that Rozee\u2019s recovery from the serious hamstring injury he sustained in round 2, and the subsequent nerve issue is progressing well. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Rozee has been in at Alberton consistently during the off-season ramping up his running, and is said to be moving very well. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Can Jase Burgoyne fill the Butters hole? <\/p>\n
The Power\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The Power now have a Zak Butters\u2019 sized hole in its midfield after he returned to Victoria to join the Western Bulldogs. <\/p>\n
A fit Rozee should go straight into the midfield upon his return to footy, while Miles Bergman also could get more time in there. <\/p>\n
But Power fans will be crying out for Burgoyne to get a sustained run in there after his end to 2026. <\/p>\n
![\"Butters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/b215a9ad390ab586c61d2dece0661ba6.jpeg\")
What can Jason Horne-Francis do with a full pre-season? <\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t the ideal way for the Power to start pre-season last year when Horne-Francis re-injured his foot and limped off the track. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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\u2019s best and fairest. <\/p>\n
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? <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Who partners Aliir Aliir down back? <\/p>\n
The Power ended the season with Dante Visentini and Harrison Ramm as its key defensive partnership in the win over Essendon. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Ramm was extremely impressive last pre-season, but needs to improve his kicking.<\/p>\n
Visentini started the year as the Power\u2019s No. 1 ruck option, but showed some promise as a key defender at the end of the year and with Jordon Sweet\u2019s outstanding 2026 that is potentially how the young tall can find a roll in Carr\u2019s side. <\/p>\n
Originally published as The big Port Adelaide questions ahead of pre-season training for 2027<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Port Adelaide begins its pre-season campaign on Monday as it looks to rise up the ladder under 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