Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus has no doubt his team will be a tougher nut to crack this season.
The Power were repeatedly split open last year, logging club record defeats en route to their worst AFL return of just three wins.
But Primus warned Port will be more competitive this year, starting Sunday with their home season-opener against St Kilda.
“We’re significantly better prepared,” Primus told reporters on Friday.
“Most of our list have done a stack of work, they’re injury-free, they’re fitter and stronger.
“And they’re more confident about what they are individually going to do and what, as a team, we are going to do.
“What that means by the end of the year, we’ll find out.
“But there’s no doubt we’re a lot better prepared to attack a 22-game season than we were last year.”
Four players will make their premiership season debut for Port in Sunday’s twilight fixture – recruits Brad Ebert and John McCarthy, No.5 draft pick Chad Wingard and 21-year-old ruckman Jarrad Redden.
Significantly for Primus, the quartet all play midfield roles.
“We have got to be able to get the ball inside 50 more,” he said.
“We have got to be able to find more guys who can win their own ball, and we think we have added to that mix.
“It has still got some work to do, but that is an area we have focused on.”
All four newcomers won selection after a pre-season which heartened Primus.
“You can only go on what we have done in the last four weeks, and they have certainly been up for the battle,” he said of his players.
“And I see no reason why they won’t be on Sunday … I can be sure our team will have a crack.”
Primus said restoring Port’s competitiveness for every minute of every game was a priority.
“If we do that, the wins will come no problem at all,” he said.
“But if we don’t do that, we’ll have games where we’re disappointing – and that is what we’re trying to knock on the head, and try and be real resilient and competitive.”