Esava Ratugolea trade to Port Adelaide, can win the flag if they get him, Geelong defender, Ben Dixon،
Former Hawthorn marksman Ben Dixon believes Port Adelaide can win the flag in 2024 if they land Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea on the final day of the trade period.
The Power made the top four in a surprising season under coach Ken Hinkley, but were then knocked out of the final in straight sets, losing away to Brisbane and then at home to GWS, their defensive issues being visible in both matches.
Against the Lions, Hinkley’s side conceded 123 points, while the Giants scored 93 points with Jesse Hogan (eight field goals) and Toby Greene (five) proving unstoppable.
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With Aliir Aliir playing alone in defence, the Power have targeted key defensive help, with Essendon’s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Cats swingman Ratugolea as their two main priorities.
Dixon believes Ratugolea, whose raw intercepting ability has been on display during the 2023 season as well as his lack of polish in defense after many seasons as a striker, is the difference between the Power challenging at new or falls back into the peloton.
“If they land Esava, they can win him next year. Don’t worry about the other two (Zerk-Thatcher or Bulldogs ruckman Jordon Sweet). I’m a complete fan of the man,” Dixon said on the Fox Footy podcast.
“He organized the chaos. When you’re out there, you just let the players play to their natural abilities – and the internal structure of what you’re trying to do on a football pitch and the implementation goes with that.
“There are obviously players who can sit inside but don’t have a clue what’s going on. And I think Esava is one of those guys. He is so flexible; you can throw it forward, chaos, throw it back, it will do the work for you.
“But you have to let these guys play – Ken lets them play. I’m not saying Chris (Scott) doesn’t do it. But in terms of, if Esava gets to Port Adelaide, they can win it next year. So top four, without hesitation. They could be one of the final two teams.
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The Power finished third in the table and third in points scored over the home and away season, but a lowly 12th in points allowed – the worst of all finalists.
None of the last 18 AFL premiers have finished outside the top six for points allowed.
“And they reached the top four with a defense that collapsed throughout the year,” said Max Laughton of Foxfooty.com.au.
“So they’re improving on their big weakness – they’re at least trying to, it’s questionable if they’re getting the best talent, but they’re getting what’s available.
“It makes all the sense in the world. They have to go with a flag, because that’s what they’re building towards and what Hinkley is committed to.
Dixon responded: “And they don’t want to wait and leave it to chance, yeah, if we can’t finish it, let’s move on to the draft.”
