Port Adelaide senior assistant coach Stuart Dew discussed the game review on Monday afternoon, following a heartbreaking three-point loss to second-placed Sydney. 

The Power led for almost two-thirds of the game, with an experienced Sydney side able to capitalise on its opportunities over the young home team. 

Speaking with the Adelaide media, Dew detailed the team review, the value in the lessons in defeat for young players, and how Joe Richards is managing more midfield time. 

Dew on the game review 
“Yeah, it was good, actually. We did it as we normally do. We've been really consistent, so, just went back over obviously, things we did really well that we wanted to do going into the game, and then obviously there were some moments there that we let some things slip, and good teams make you pay. But in terms of our intent and the intention of the players was really strong, and execution at different moments I think were costly, and always are.

“We had some shallow entries, which then they punished. We had the ability to potentially get some deeper entries or work a little bit harder to get those. We had a fair few that dropped from 50 to 45 and that's an area that Sydney do bounce from. But credit to them, they pressured us into those scenarios. So we talked about that, and it's not as simple as how good does our offence or defence look, they're always linked. So at different times, the way we attack didn't help us defend, but on the flip side, we can defend stronger at different points, which give us a really good look in that offence phase.” 

Dew on developing young players 
“We're looking forward. I think we take our lessons from each week, and really what we're focusing on is some real foundation plays for us. We have got a young team, so we're building their foundation of AFL football, and some really good signs on the weekend. I think guys like Berry, Bamert, Whitlock, great experiences for them. I think Bamert’s football IQ in a senior game against Sydney was impressive. So, trying to grow our list and consistency around their performance. In that individual development, for young players, I think it's important that we keep looking forward, take your lessons, but you've got to keep moving forward, otherwise you can dwell on the outcomes too much. But our process of constant improvement, I think, is really strong and some of those players are starting to get some consistency.” 

Dew on learning lessons in close games 
“I think it depends on how you look at the lessons, and I think we look at it just dealing in facts. We don't try and sugar coat it or make it look a certain way. We say, look, this is what we did really well, because we need to get better, and this is why teams win close games. When they kicked four goals, that was a bit of a moment for us to sit and see, okay, where's this game going? But we kept coming, gave ourselves an opportunity, and I think it's those moments that will hold us in good stead going forward. And again our percentage probably tells a different story than the win-loss column, and we'd all love to have a couple more, no doubt, but we've been in games, and we’ve had four or five games under three points against top seven teams, so we're close, but there's a gap there, obviously. And we think it's a little bit more controllable than winning a game by three or losing a game by three, we'd love to have a little bit more of a buffer.” 

Dew on wanting to win 
“We'd rather be sitting 13 and zero and learn those lessons from winning. We'd love to be winning these games, and more so for our fans and the players themselves, they're putting in the work. I think we've been really consistent with that, particularly in our training and where we're educating. We're not bouncing around, we're trying to be really consistent, and starting to see some rewards. We’re growing the midfield group, guys like Joe Richards coming through the midfield now, had a really strong game and rewarding his form. I think guys that can play their role will try and expand on that.” 

Dew on playing Joe Richards in the midfield 
“We've been throwing (the idea) up for a little while now, he's been having little cameos, but I think he showed he's got a lot more capability, and reads the game really well. He's a good decision maker under pressure and a good two-way player. We will certainly see (continued) exposure through there, and there's some other guys that we potentially could have a look at as well. So, just again, trying to be less one dimensional and spread the load a little bit more, and prepare the list as best we can, and also give the opposition some different things to think about.” 

Dew on Connor Rozee missing from the team 
“Yeah it probably gets forgotten a little bit that we're missing our captain, and he's our best player. So I think that has been missed, but in a way he's doing some fantastic work off field. I've been really impressed with Connor and his selflessness, and obviously he's had a couple of setbacks, and he's disappointed, but he's channelled that in the right way, and I think he's having a real impact on some of these younger players. Even just having him on the bench to chat to and we quite often can send messages through Connor, and his ability to teach is going to be important. I think he'll be a better captain for it. Been really, really happy with his work.” 

Dew on Jack Whitlock 
“I think it was probably his best game in the ruck on the weekend, so we always debate, him having to play ruck, is that detrimental to his forward craft think he's still 20, so he's still young. We're always looking with probably a longer lens on Jack. How do we prepare him for a consistent AFL footy, and, and how do we help him be the best player? So, there's always a discussion about the mix, conditions come into it, but I still think Jack's getting to good spots, he's learning against some of the best backs. That's the beauty of playing these good teams, they don't get any respite. And again, if we review the game well, the lessons can be longer lasting than how did you go on the weekend? I think that's a little bit simplistic for him to look at his game, particularly a big tall, they take a little bit of time, and we love his endeavour.” 

Dew on Todd Marshall 
“There were moments on the weekend where he competed really well, and then other times I think he needs to work a little bit harder around that contest space. He's been around enough that he knows he needs to perform and play his role, otherwise there's always pressure from within, and we've had some injuries, but now we're starting to get some players back, so the best pressure is from within, and that's important for us. 

Dew on players’ kicking routines 
“Every player on our list has a kicking plan, and they're really certain on what works for them in which position. It’s down to execution, and we certainly don't shy away from demand of making sure that they hit the grass at every angle possible, so they're really confident. I think we know that there's been a few games where in the first quarter have had 10 shots. We’d love to come in with a little bit of a buffer, and we haven't, but the game is played in the front half, so we keep showing up, they do the work, the work always comes out last on the weekend, so we're confident they're doing the work to be able to bring it out in a game.” 

Dew on Jordon Sweet 
“He’s still building well, Sweety. I think he's still adding to his game and what he does, is he does take him on board the feedback, which I really like, particularly of late putting that work into education and helping the other young rucks. Obviously, we've got big van Wyk in as well as Vis (Dante Visentini), so I like that he's giving to the other ruckmen as well, and I think that helps his footy. The more he gives to others, I think it has a positive effect on his form.” 

Dew on Jack Lukosius 
“It'll be a discussion (whether he plays in the AFL side this week). Obviously he’s played a game and a half, or a game and a quarter, so it’ll just be a discussion probably a little bit more around how do we set him up to play well, not just play? So we'll review that in the coming days, and see what the mix of the side’s like, and a little bit of stuff around the talls and the positions that we play, so he's getting himself up to match fitness, so he’s getting close.”