CHARLIE Dixon’s label as “key forward” — and exclusive role as the major focal point of the Port Adelaide attack — is up for debate at Alberton.
New Power rucks-forwards coach Brendon Lade is challenging senior coach Ken Hinkley’s vow to keep 200cm Dixon at the goalfront. And the 2004 Port Adelaide premiership player is leaning on his own experiences as a key forward to emphasise why Dixon should join Patrick Ryder and Jackson Trengove in the Power’s ruck battery this season.
“If you are not getting a touch as a forward, you can’t let him sit and rot (in attack) for the whole game,” Lade said in the post-match review with radio FIVEaa after Port Adelaide’s one-point loss to St Kilda in the JLT Community Series opener at Etihad Stadium.
Dixon, who started the game shaking off a virus, finished the pre-season clash with meagre statistics — just one kick, only two marks and, critically, no score.
The Dixon-Trengove tandem produced just one goal and three team scores — all from Trengove’s work.
Brendon Lade wants Charlie Dixon to spend some time in the ruck for Port Adelaide this season. Picture: GettySource:Getty Images
Lade revealed he is “still trying” to win the argument at the Power match committee for Dixon to work in ruck, as he did at Gold Coast.
“Playing in that role, as a key forward, if you are not taking a mark or not getting a touch, you fall right out of the game,” notes Lade. “We can add that (ruck) bow to Dixon’s game; he has done it before.”
Lade, who returned to the Power in the off-season from the Richmond coaching panel, is forecasting Ryder will take up 60-70 per cent of Port Adelaide’s ruck assignments this season — his comeback year after sitting out last season by the WADA-imposed ban from his time at Essendon during the 2012 supplements saga.
Trengove, who has been reassigned from defence to attack, would take up 20 per cent of the ruck assignments.
“And Dixon could have a go (for the remaining time) to keep him in the game,” Lade said. “I’m still trying to get all three up.”
Port Adelaide’s forward set-up for the premiership season is now more and more likely to have rookie-listed mature recruit Brett Eddy emerge as the third tall option around Dixon and the Ryder-Trengove tandem.
Jackson Trengove will be used as a forward-ruck in 2017. Picture: Sarah ReedSource:News Corp Australia
This leaves veteran forward Justin Westhoff to work from a wing, as he did against the Saints and at the Power’s internal trial a fortnight ago.
Eddy’s audition against the Saints was encouraging to the Power match committee. The 27-year-old South Adelaide recruit took five marks, but was uncharacteristically off line with his kicking to return 0.3.
“He did some real nice things — and five marks inside-50 were a bonus,” Lade said. “We’s still playing around with our (forward set-up for the Round 1 clash with Sydney at the SCG). But we do know Charlie (Dixon) and ‘Jacko’ (Trengove) will give everything they have got because they hate to lose a contest.”
Port Adelaide’s search for better touch — after again turning over the ball with poor skill actions — will continue on Sunday at Mount Gambier against Richmond in the second of the Power’s three JLT Community Series games.
The Power was injury free against the Saints. Gun midfielder Robbie Gray, who has been rested in the past two hit-outs, will be a contender for selection this week.
Originally published as Lade wants Dixon part of ruck mix
