Port Adelaide senior coach Josh Carr relishes the opportunity to take on the best in the competition, despite missing some key players to injury. 

Set to welcome Jason Horne-Francis and Mitch Georgiades back from suspension and concussion respectively, the team gets a boost as it heads to the Gabba to play against reigning premiers Brisbane. 

Carr spoke on Saturday ahead of the trip, where he touched on selection decisions, staying motivated for the rest of the year, and the natural competitiveness within the group. 

Carr on selection 
“It’s obviously good to have (Jason Horne-Francis and Mitch Georgiades) back. Hornet in and around the midfield, and obviously was in really good form before he went out, and the same with George. Two growing leaders of the footy club, and I think everyone will be pretty happy to have those guys in. And then Watto (Jack Watkins) comes in, off the back of some really good form (in the SANFL).”

Carr on taking on Brisbane 
“It’s a great opportunity. Look, we've had some challenges along the way this year, and played against some good teams and put in some solid performances. For us, it's about embracing the journey that we're on and embracing the  way that we're playing, and we get that opportunity against a really good team.” 

Carr on the focus for the rest of the year 
“It's just about making sure our game plan evolves, and we get opportunities to keep working on that. And I've spoken in the media about the way we want to finish off this year, it isn't just looking for the end. It's actually trying to get better and improve and accelerate into the off season.” 

Carr on the group staying motivated 
“I just feel there's great buy-in from the group right now, and feel like everyone's enjoying their footy and enjoying being around the footy club and trying to get better. And I think if we maintain that that attitude and that mental approach, then we're in a really good spot. 

Carr on Horne-Francis being in the midfield without Zak Butters 
“I think that's really easy for Jase to focus on what his role is in within the team. So his attitude is about how he can help the team, and I think if he has that attitude for his whole career, then he'll be in a good spot when it comes to getting tagged. 

“He embraces the challenge, and I think that's been his maturity, from when he first got here to where he's sitting right now. He's able to go into a game understand that there could be a team that comes out and tags him or not, but he understands what that’s going to look like.” 

Carr on potential positional changes for players  
“There's opportunities… you know, Bergman gets another run now playing as a mid and you touched on Jase Burgoyne, who's getting more inside time. We won't be exploring anything, I guess, drastic with any individuals. There won't be anything they haven't done before, but they do get opportunities to play in roles that, in some ways, that they haven't played a lot in.” 

Carr on Joe Richards’ injury 
“Joey's had a really good year, and his midfield time over the last eight to 10 weeks has been more. And obviously, he had that game last weekend, which was probably one of his better games. He did message me yesterday to say he thought it was leather poisoning first before the finger. So he's in a good spot. We’re disappointed to not have him in obviously this week and out for a few weeks, but what's been pleasing is he got an opportunity to play inside, and he showed that he can do that. 

“He's got the quick feet, and he gets after the loose ball. So you need that through your midfield. You can't just have all big bulls going through there. You need guys that can just get onto that loose ball. He can do that. He's got great inside to outside speed, so he's added another string to his bow.” 

Carr on Zak Butters 
“Yeah, it's great having back in the in the building (after syndesmosis surgery). His attitude and even just his attitude to want to get back. He's doing everything he can to get back and play. And he's a professional and he's a leader at the footy club. So as far as his future goes, there's obviously not long left in the in the season. He's just embracing being around the group, and we'll get there at the end. 

“We’ve always got hope and look, no matter what happens, Zak’s a Port Adelaide person. So no matter what happens at the end of the year, he's had an extremely great career with us up until now, and we love what he brings to our football club. And so him retweeting Jack Whitlock's signing - that's his teammate. That's what you would expect.” 

Carr on Tasmania’s targets 
“He's the same as every other opposition coach. You're going to be exploring all options and trying to bring people into your football club. So I wouldn't be expecting any less. 

“We'll be trying to get as many (players) locked away as we can. One is because they are a big part of our future, and two is, you don't want them going to any other clubs, and obviously Tasmania’s coming in and they’ve got a lot of cash to throw around, and from our point of view, we're pretty confident in the players that we've got coming up, and pretty confident in locking our players away.” 

Carr on injuries this year 
“They are more contact, and those freak injuries, but that doesn't mean we don't look at how we can prepare the players and make sure we protect ourselves from that. You spend a lot of work obviously on the soft tissue injuries and making sure you protect yourselves. We're exploring all options when it comes to looking after the players from the collision injuries at the same time. We've had great conversations around it. We're making sure we put everything in place.” 

Carr on the players’ natural competitiveness 
“The stakes are always high when it comes to competition in high performance industries, that's why they're here because they love competition, so it doesn't matter whether it's training or in games. Obviously, the stakes lift in in a game, and but you've got to have that internal competitiveness all the time. 

“We had that challenge in the mid-season before the bye where I felt like things were dropping off a little bit, but since the bye, I just feel like we've come out the other side and feel like the buy-in from everyone is the best it could be. So, I love that they're enjoying themselves. The feeling of the season goes too quick, they want it to go longer. That that's the feeling that they've got. So when the end of the season comes, they they're looking forward to what comes next.”