Port Adelaide assistant coach Chad Cornes said the team trained with intensity and great energy following a four-day break over the bye, as they prepare themselves for the GIANTS in Canberra on Saturday.  

The Power heads into Round 13 with a 4-7 win-loss record, sitting below the GIANTS on the ladder who are chasing their eighth win for 2025.  

Speaking to the media at Adelaide airport before travelling to Canberra, Cornes touched on what the side reviewed over the break, playing in Canberra, and team selection.   

Cornes on playing in Canberra 

“It’s a great test for us. It will be cold, possibly wet, and against a really good team that we've got a lot of respect for. The bye was good for us; we’ve had a few days off and then had a good week of really intense training with some great energy. There's some stuff we reviewed heavily over the break, and hopefully we'll see that come out tomorrow night.  

“Personally, I’ve got some good memories playing in Canberra, both with Port and when I was with GWS. It was the first ever win for the club (GWS) against Gold Coast and was one of the special days in my footy career. It is a really, really, nice venue. I'm not sure what the conditions will be like. They don't look great, but they’re the same for both teams, and we've shown we can play well in those conditions.”  

Cornes on reviewing stoppage and defensive work 

“We looked at our stoppages (over the break), the initial stoppage, and how we're playing away from that, both defensively and offensively. Some inside 50 connection has to improve, and just the way we defend as a team. The defence was a real focus. I think at our best, you really notice how well we defend and attack the ball and the body, so that was probably the key takeaway for us.” 

Cornes on the forward line  

“Sav is coming back in, and he'll start in defence, but he's got that flexibility that we can throw him forward if needed. They're pretty tall back line, so we've only really got Mitch and Jeremy as the two key talls, but Pep (Sam Powell-Pepper) can play slightly taller, and hopefully the conditions really suit the lineup we’ve picked.” 

Cornes on Ollie Lord’s omission 

“It was form, his last month has been pretty quiet. We all love Lordy, and the boys love playing with him, but it got to a stage where he just needed to go back and regain a bit of confidence. He’s just overthinking things a little bit too much and not really playing on his instincts. His best stuff is crashing packs, never getting out marked, playing some really physical footy, so that's what we're looking for from him. Hopefully it's just a quick reset, and like I said, the boys love playing with him, and I love coaching him. So hopefully we'll see him back in a couple of weeks. 

“His attitude has been really good, even after a couple of down games, it was really, really positive. And he was sure within himself that it (his form) was going to turn. With big, tall, key forwards sometimes it just takes a while. Like I said, his attitude, you couldn't ask for more from him, the way he trains and prepares is outstanding, so I think this should just be a quick reset for him.” 

Cornes on game plan 

“At our best I think you really notice how well we get after the oppo, especially our forward line pressure, and our pressure all over the ground, which has been inconsistent. So that's a great starting point for us (against the GIANTS). I think when we defend that way, some good offence comes off that. So, if anything, tomorrow night, hopefully you'll see our brand, which is some really good hunt after the oppo, and the ball.” 

Cornes on the team’s ruck stocks 

“Ivan has actually had a really good couple of weeks around the footy club in the way he's trained. He's doing a lot of extra work to try and get himself back in the team. Dante again, he's had a real crack the last couple of weeks, and another one that the boys really like playing with, and we see a really bright future for him. So, it's great to have the three rucks (Soldo, Visentini, and Sweet). They've all had their struggles, but they are all working really hard to get back where they want to be.”  

Cornes on coming up against the GIANTS’ Nick Madden on debut 

“Matt Lobbe and Josh Carr, as well as Kenny, have really researched this guy (Madden), another young ruckman. So, there should be some great energy between the two of them (Visentini and Madden). Lobbes does a lot of work with our rucks preparing them for what they're coming up against. We love the way he (Visentini) goes about it. He gives everything, similar Lordy (Ollie Lord), in the way he plays with the aggression and the attack on the ball and the body.”  

 Cornes on playing out the second half 

“We’ve looked really hard into it, especially the strength and conditioning staff; they’ve really delved into why that might be. It's not good enough, we need to be better in the second half of games. Like I said, we've had a really good week of training that's been physical and really intense, and the energy has been as good as it's been all year. I feel like the boys are ready to produce a better performance than what we've shown over the last month.” 

 Cornes on Powell-Pepper’s role in the midfield 

“He was quiet in that game (Round 11 v. Fremantle), and we threw him in the midfield in the second half against Fremantle and he did some stuff, and Willie (Rioli) is the same. It is hard as that smaller forward sometimes when the delivery is not how we want it to be. You can get left out and not get too many possessions in that role. So, to have that flexibility to throw both of them in there is something we love.”