THEY'RE ready. It is the most reassuring note on the eve of an AFL premiership season in which Port Adelaide is rated a major contender.

And when so many of the other leading challengers - Geelong, defending champion Richmond and Brisbane - have made their squads stronger in the off-season, it is more reassuring that Port Adelaide has made its game more dynamic and roll deeper.

As defence coach Brett Montgomery said after the 50-point win against a rebuilding (and challenged) Adelaide behind locked gates at Alberton Oval on Saturday: "We're in a good position ... "

The scouting notes that are now spreading across the national competition would reaffirm Port Adelaide is primed to play in consecutive AFL top-eight final series for the first time since 2013-14 ... and capable of doing much, much more.

MIDFIELDER Ollie Wines is in peak condition - the blessing of a pre-season clear of injury, surgery and debate on his role in any leadership group.

WINGMAN Karl Amon - already an effective player with his hard-running game - is more damaging in his clearance work.

DON'T typecast some Port Adelaide players to one-dimensional roles. Half-back Riley Bonner might finally find his place on a wing. 

"We have challenged every player to develop a secondary role," says Montgomery. And this is not just to give senior coach Ken Hinkley and his staff more cards to throw for mismatches against opposition coaching panels during the premiership season.

"Quarters are going back to full length (20 minutes, from 16 in COVID-hit 2020 campaign)," said Montgomery. "The (home-and-away) season, we hope, will be 22 games long - it will be a slog, a grind again. So you need a deep squad with players capable of multiple roles."

SYDNEY recruit Aliir Aliir adds to that agenda, virtually answering how Port Adelaide copes without Justin Westhoff to throw at a moment's notice into key roles either side of centre. Is the former Swan a key defender, a pinch-hitting ruckman or a secondary option to Charlie Dixon in attack?

"Too early to call," suggests Montgomery. There might not be one answer.

For now Port Adelaide is persisting with two ruckmen - Scott Lycett and Peter Ladhams. The bonus is that tall target in attack when either ruckman is off the ball.

DRAFT pick No. 16 Lachie Jones is physically "AFL ready". If he did not make an impression with his close marking and spoils, particularly against young Adelaide forward Darcy Fogarty, his pack-splitting rush to the ball on the grandstand wing in the last quarter would have won over every Port Adelaide fan who has a demanding image on how defenders should attack the contest.

TEENAGER Miles Bergman, call No. 14 in the 2019 national draft, is much closer to an AFL game - and not necessarily as a forward. 

MOST notable - particularly after Port Adelaide spent so much time last season speaking of its work in building connections - is how well connected this team is now. The telling moment was amid the five-goal surge across seven minutes late in the third term.

Zak Butters' understanding to switch the play from one side of the 50-metre arc to the other to find midfielder Tom Rockliff for a successful set shot at goal underlined how "connection" works on the scoreboard.

Port Adelaide overcame Adelaide's two-goal start to have this trial game completely on its terms from midway through the first term. Adelaide's inability to significantly change the tone of the game might leave in question how Hinkley can use the shiny new levers in his playbook to counter opposition momentum.

But not in doubt is Port Adelaide's readiness for the premiership contest that begins against North Melbourne in Melbourne on March 21.

The pre-season closes on Sunday in a repeat trial with Adelaide at Noarlunga.