2017 record: 14-8 (home and away), elimination final loss

Position: 5th

Season review: Season 2017 held so much promise for Port Adelaide, but their impressive year came to a shattering end when they suffered an epic after-the-siren, extra-time elimination final loss to West Coast. At times they were one of the most exciting teams to watch, but ultimately could not shake the tag of "flat-track bullies", with just two wins against top-eight sides from 10 attempts. Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray were key to their return to the finals, while Ollie Wines, Charlie Dixon, Tom Jonas, Brad Ebert and Chad Wingard provided a solid support cast. They've unearthed some players of the future in Sam Powell-Pepper and Tom Clurey as well.

Grade: B

Unsigned free agents: Jackson Trengove

Retirements/delistings: TBC

Key draft picks: 30 and 48 in national draft

BARTEL SAYS ...

WHERE THEY'RE AT

Ouch! That one has got to hurt. An extra-time loss from a free kick will burn at Alberton all summer.

The good thing, though, was there was a clear directive to see if the young talent could take the finals run deep into September. In some way, it should be a lesson that will give a lot of experience to this group.

Dan Houston, Todd Marshall and brute Powell-Pepper are leading a new crop of Power players under coach Ken Hinkley.

Wingard and Gray are elite in two areas of the ground, which would spark arguments every week between assistant coaches over who gets to use them more often in their area.

Ryder was the most dominant ruckman this year and the decisive factor in many results going Port Adelaide's way. But if this group wants to truly experience growth, they will need to claim a few top-four scalps next year.

WHAT THEY NEED

From the outside looking in, you'd think a big key back, considering Jack Hombsch and Jonas are a little undersized and Houston and Dougal Howard are young.

However, leaving Trengove out of the finals mix shows the Power have faith in that group to build a back line for many years to come, with Darcy Byrne-Jones and Jasper Pittard providing the run and Hamish Hartlett and Matthew Broadbent playing quarterback roles.

They also need another midfield/forward type who can finish. Wouldn't the Power love to have Gray and Wingard either forward or on the ball together? That's probably why the speculation surrounding Geelong speedster Steven Motlop's future has become stronger. Motlop is that kind of player who can get you 18-20 possessions and one to two goals or score assists a game.

WHO THEY SHOULD TARGET

If they miss out on Motlop, they should ask Gold Coast about Callum Ah Chee. The brother of Port Adelaide's Brendon Ah Chee, Callum has outside run and poise in front of goals, which would mesh well with the Power's attacking flair.

He is only 30 games into his career and is still building a tank to run through the midfield, but he has shown glimpses of class. His five-goal haul during the Suns' 57-point loss to Adelaide shows he has what it takes to make it at the level. He could thrive under Hinkley, who encourages players to play on instinct and take the game on.

WHAT COACH KEN HINKLEY SAYS

"You always like to think the hurt helps them, but I think that's a bit fluffy. Does it help you the next time? I don't think it does, myself, because you have to get to the next time. It takes me back to Geelong this year [at Simonds Stadium], again losing by two points, which cost us a top-four position. Tonight we lost another game by two points at a stoppage in a back 50 where you just can't concede scores. I am definitely proud of the performance and the way they [Port players] stuck at it. We know we probably hurt ourselves a lot tonight, but you can't not be proud."

- with Ronny Lerner