Port Adelaide assistant coach Luke Webster was pleased with the improvement in the second half during Friday night’s match simulation against Adelaide, with a young Power side going down by just 19 points. 

Port Adelaide outscored the Crows by a goal after the main break, with the visitors making the most of their opportunities early. 

Speaking to media after the game, Webster noted the positives from the game, the versatility of the group, and gave an update on Jason Horne-Francis’ foot. 

Webster on the match sim 
“There are some good things, and there are some things that, when you come up against the team that's been a quality team last year and a particular challenge for us, there's some things that I think we continue to keep working on. But we saw enough today that shows that some of the things that we’ve been trying to work and to practice and that we’re working towards.” 

Webster on the positives and areas for improvement 
“I think there were some great positives throughout the whole game. The times that we stepped into the contest and really rolled our sleeves up allowed us to get the game on our terms, and the way we defended at times was really, really pleasing. We could get some repeat entries and really start to look to dominate the front half. 

“(The areas for improvement) were very similar to the positives – the inconsistency of our contest, moments that we didn't take throughout those opportunities that some of our players had. As a group, we didn't take them enough. If you look at the inside 50 numbers, it was pretty even, but probably we just didn't finish our work enough in the front half, where they were a little bit cleaner and a bit more efficient.” 

Webster on the second half improvement 
“Yeah, definitely (we were pleased). We’re going to look at the whole game, but certainly it was great to see our playing group listen to some instructions that we gave them at halftime and make some adjustments. And we started to get to work around the contest and that started to give us a game that we wanted to see in our players.” 

Webster on Jason Horne-Francis and Harrison Ramm 
“I think with Jason, he’s just got some awareness in his foot. Obviously, we're going to have a really good look at what that might mean. But again, you know it's we're going to be cautious with all our players. I think Rammer just got a knock in his neck. So again, precautionary for those guys and we’ll see how that unfolds over the next little bit.” 

Webster on Todd Marshall 
“I thought Toddy stepped in after half time and did a really good job. Got a chance to play on Thilthorpe and I thought some of his contests were really pleasing. He took a step forward for us.” 

Webster on whether they’ll play two or three key defenders moving forward 
“It's a great question. We're not set on it just yet. You know, you have the flexibility in these games to give different looks. And I thought giving Todd a second half and giving him an opportunity to come into the game and get a look at him was really pleasing for our group. Harrison (Ramm), I thought, you can't get that in training, like he plays on, obviously our key forwards, but a guy who has been a big key forward (in Riley Thilthorpe), and you look at all their key forwards and their forward line, it's a great opportunity for our boys to learn and develop off that. And there's some great learnings for Rammer to take away from this game. And obviously, for other guys who got to play on them as well.” 

Webster on the flexibility of the group 
“(Jase Burgoyne) and Logan Evans played a little bit across half back as well, too. So there's an opportunity with our group. We've got great flexibility. Obviously, Rose (Connor Rozee) started half back and went through the midfield as well, and Berg (Miles Bergman) spent a little bit of time back there. So this is the value that our group has. We've got guys who can play in multiple roles, and we're going to continue to explore that.  

“I think there's as a backline coach, yeah, I'd like to have (Burgoyne) there more often than not. But again, he can add value up on the wing as well, too, even pinch-hit inside. So as I mentioned before, it's great flexibility for our group to be able to have those guys that are playing multiple roles.” 

Webster on Jack Whitlock 
“He certainly stepped up after half time and again, it helps when you get little bit better in the contest and you get a little bit cleaner ball going into the front half. It allows our players to play to their strengths. And I think he's definitely stepped up in that space, which is great to see.”