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“Can’t believe he hasn’t played more”: The Power recruits who are starring this pre-season
Andrew Slevison • February 8th, 2025 12:56 pm
Port Adelaide forward coach Chad Cornes has identified two players who he believes can enhance the side in 2025.
The club great has loved what he has seen so far from trade period acquisition Joe Richards and the No.15 pick from the 2024 draft in Joe Berry.
Cornes was asked which players have impressed him most this pre-season and named the two Joes who promise to bring some spark to Port’s forward line this season.
“I’ve got two of the guys we’ve brought in,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“Joe Richards who we got from Collingwood. From what I’ve seen I just can’t believe he hasn’t played more footy.
“If you pair him up with Joe Berry, the small forward we got in the draft, the way those guys run, get up the field and beat their opponents back... They’re both tough, they both use the ball really well.
“We’ve had great hard-working small forwards who have been reliable and did their job. But these two in particular are going to give us something we haven’t had in my time at the footy club.
“They’re two that have really excited me.”
The arrivals of Richards and Berry will allow Power coach Ken Hinkley to play Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee through the midfield on a more regular basis.
Both players spent time inside forward 50 in 2024, particularly Horne-Francis who kicked 27 goals and can at times be a weapon in attack.
“With the guys we’ve brought into the forward line, hopefully we don’t have to rely on ‘Hoyney’ (Horne-Francis) as much as we did last year in having to go forward and kick us goals when we need them,” Cornes added.
“He’s so damaging when he does go there, but I think the split will be more heavily favoured to midfield time.
“He and Connor in particular from those three jets in the midfield (including Zak Butters) are guys that can go forward and cause the opposition some real headaches.
“Hopefully we see a bit of them up forward and kicking goals for us.”
The Power meet Showdown rivals Adelaide in an unofficial practice match at Mount Barker on February 21 before taking on St Kilda in the AAMI Community Series at RSEA Park on March 1.
The 2025 season kicks off for Port at Collingwood at the MCG on March 15.
Image from PAFC on X.
