Recruit John McCarthy wants his Port Adelaide teammates to make a statement to the AFL world against hometown rivals Adelaide on Sunday.
Port have nipped at the heels, but lost, to three AFL finalists in a row for a precarious 1-3 win-loss record.
Like most pundits, McCarthy believes Port have improved – but the ex-Collingwood onballer wants winning proof.
“It’s time to make a statement and prove it but I think we are better than the 1-3 results suggest,” McCarthy said on Thursday.
“Hopefully we can prove to the footy world we’re better than 1-3.
“We just need to show that we can play four quarters.
“We have come close but there has just been 15 minutes of footy where we have let ourselves down.”
The Crows expect defender Graham Johncock to return from a thigh injury for the twilight Showdown, but Port have lost talented utility Robbie Gray to a season-ending knee injury.
“He’s a genuine gun so he’s going to be hard to replace,” McCarthy said.
“But we have got to hope there are a couple of young guys who can stand up and make the most of their opportunities.
“We know that we’re good enough to win … we want to prove to the footy world we have got what it takes.”
Johncock missed Adelaide’s 46-point win against Greater Western Sydney last weekend, while midfielder Bernie Vince (broken hand) has been sidelined for a month.
Adelaide wingman Brodie Smith said new Crows coach Brenton Sanderson had embraced the rivalry with Port.
“He is really pumped to get out there and play a rival side,” Smith said.
“The way he spoke about it today, about the rivalry, he’s really excited.”
While the Crows boast three wins from four games, Smith said Port’s win-loss return defied the Power’s season.
“Both teams are playing pretty good footy at the moment,” Smith said.
“Port probably have played a few harder opposition so I suppose it will give us an idea of where we’re at.”