Port Adelaide are angry, but confident they’re not unravelling again, captain Travis Boak says.
He says Port maintain they’re capable of mixing it with the AFL’s best despite consecutive losses.
“The boys are really angry and frustrated with the last couple of weeks but the belief and confidence is definitely still there,” Boak told reporters on Monday.
“We know we can match it with the good sides. We just need to lift our defensive acts a lot more.”
Boak said defeats to Richmond on Saturday and North Melbourne the previous week had damaged Port’s quest to regain respect after five years without making the finals.
The Power banked five straight wins to start their season, until the recent losses.
“We think we have earnt a little bit of respect back in the first five weeks and it has probably just stalled a little bit,” Boak said.
“We probably let two games slip that we thought we were big chances of winning and that is what is frustrating.
“But the guys are really hungry to get back and respond now and that is what you will see this week against Carlton.”
Boak said Port’s away fixture against the Blues on Sunday was huge for his club, which has an extra two days to prepare given Carlton play on Monday night.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to earn that respect back,” he said.
“We’re treating it as a very important game.
“The extra two days of recovery is something we will definitely use to our advantage. Any day you can get extra on an opposition is huge these days.”