PORT ADELAIDE intends to make the most of the final two weeks of the home-and-away series with change - in the playbook and on the selection whiteboard.

Forwards coach Nathan Bassett is forecasting an ambitious reworking of the gameplan to find a new edge, starting with Sunday's clash against fellow non-finalist Essendon at the Docklands in west Melbourne on Sunday.

"We review all facets of our game - and we look forward," Bassett said. "Who do we want to be? How do we want to play moving to the future?

"We have opportunities in the next two weeks to look at adjusting what we are doing ... or adjust some people.

"There is game style (that can change). What are the better teams looking like (in the way they play)? Are there adjustments to make in what we are doing? And we can look at people who can help us move forward, be that for the next two weeks or the next 12 years.

"It is absolutely (bold to try game style changes in two weeks). But any review has you look at how you can sharpen things - be it offence with how we transition the ball from one half of the ground to the other. Whether it be our full-ground defence. Or our ability to work from contest to contest. You are always trying to sharpen the players - and where we think the game is going and other adjustments we can make to help us over the next couple of weeks."

Changes at selection bring into question the recall of young forward Mitch Georgiades and untried 2020 draftee Ollie Lord who has shifted from attack to defence at SANFL level.

"It has been great that Ollie has shown some potential this year," said Bassett of the 197-centimetre Lord.

"He has played as a tall forward, done a bit of ruck and played down back at the moment in the SANFL. It is good that we have someone who played very little footy before he got here (through the COVID shutdown of junior football) - he played one game before we drafted him and recruiting manager Geoff Parker says Ollie is the only player he has ever drafted without seeing him live.

"Ollie has shown some growth. It is nice that he looks like he could play AFL footy. Whether it is this week or next week or next year, there are some positive signs around what he is doing."

Georgiades returned to the SANFL to be part of Port Adelaide's line-up against Sturt and finished with 2.2 from 15 disposals in the 31-point loss at Unley.

"It was great for Mitch to go back, touch the footy, get his hands on it and get a feel for what his athleticism looks like at the next level down," Bassett said. "He is very much a learner in terms of football. He did not play the year we drafted him. He played only seven games that first year - it was a COVID year and there were no games other than AFL games. He has played 40 games of footy since then.

"Mitch has so much to work with and so much to work on too."

Port Adelaide left Adelaide Oval on Saturday night having failed to stand up - as had been the case while a finals berth was on the line - against top-eight contender Richmond. The 38-point loss put Port Adelaide at 8-12 - and did not live up to internal expectations while externally there was the question as to how the line-up would hold up standards after losing the incentive of playing in finals.

"Any time you lose by six goals at home you should be disappointed with how you played," Bassett said. "And we are.

"We had opportunities early in the game, but we certainly were dominated for significant parts of the game all over the ground. And the result was well short of what we wanted.

"We had some okay moments around the ball, but certainly the ruck dominance (by Richmond lead ruckman Toby Nankervis against Port Adelaide rookie Brynn Teakle) was an issue as was our ability to get hands on the ball. Our defenders had as bad a day as they have had for the season. And we probably lacked the ability to get enough ball in our forward half to give ourselves a chance."

On the injury front, midfielder Connor Rozee has been cleared of any structural damage from the knee injury he carried through the second half on Saturday night. He is available for selection against Essendon. Forward Todd Marshall also should be clear of the COVID protocols.

"Connor will be fine," Bassett said. "He has had a really strong season and he will have his own challenges moving forward to back up this season. It is nice to do it once, but this game keeps asking you to do it week in, week out. He has another pre-season in front of him so that he can move his game to another level which he is capable of."

On the list-management front, there will be more anticipation on experienced forward Robbie Gray's future.

"What happens with Robbie moving forward is really between him, (senior coach) Ken (Hinkley) and the club," said Bassett of the 34-year-old Gray. "It is not up to me. He has been an outstanding player for Port Adelaide and his season certainly has been compromised by (knee) injury and he is having those discussions with the club at the moment."

Another specialist forward chasing a change of luck is Orazio Fantasia. His comeback after a year of torment with injury continues in the SANFL.

"I would not say Orazio is moving as freely as he can," Bassett said. "On the weekend that was not quite what we are ready to pick for AFL level. At least Orazio is getting some continuity with training. He is able to get to a place where he can play games and, hopefully, that builds a foundation moving towards next season."

Bassett has worked an ever-changing attack this season.

"It has been a challenge with personnel and consistency," Bassett said. "Steven Motlop has retired. Robbie Gray has been compromised by injury. Orazio Fantasia has not played. Connor Rozee and Zak Butters have moved to midfield. And Charlie Dixon has been in ruck - or missed the first half of the year with injury.

"So, from what we looked like in finals the past two years to what we have put on the park this year, it has been very different. Some have been great moves for the football club - such as Connor Rozee around the ball. He has turned into one of the better players in the AFL. We think Zak Butters will be an excellent on-baller as well.

"We are looking for those replacements.

"Mitch Georgiades has had the toughest year. He turns 21 in September. He is a very young man who has not played a whole heap of football and did not come in with much of a football base (by COVID and injury). He is doing very well for a 20-year-old. It just has not been as good as last year.

"Sam Powell-Pepper has done a good job. He is just 24."

Bassett confirmed he is on contract to be at Port Adelaide next year.

"I have been coaching for a while - and my focus is how can I make this club the best it can be," Bassett said. "A lot of people judge coaches from the outside. I turn up to work each day trying to help our people get better. I help them be the best, not just players but people for Port Adelaide.

"It has been a tough year. There has been a lot of close losses. That makes the season less enjoyable. That is part of the game. But we are still achieving good things - be it Jase Burgoyne with what he is able to do. Or shifting (wingman) Kane Farrell to half-back with the potential to build his career. There is always positives and we will be working to make more positives."