Port Adelaides mantra of never, ever giving up was evident on Saturday. It would have been so easy to have rolled over when down by 23 points with 15 minutes to go, but this young group simply does not give up.
The best two clubs, Hawthorn and Sydney, are set for some years at the top, many expect Fremantle and Geelong to be there or thereabouts, but perhaps not in a position to challenge next year.
Then there are a heap stuck in a holding pattern, "hopeful" of better things. Collingwood, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Richmond. All hopeful of more.
Then there is Port Adelaide and North Melbourne. Two clubs who are "coming". Many expected North to be in Ports spot last year, in a semi final and growing as a group. Close losses last year kept them out the 8. but this year they took a step forward.
So while Saturdays loss hurts, on the back of last years semi-final departure and many "experts" suggesting Port over achieved last year and wouldn't make the 8 this year we push the Hawks in a Prelim. We are coming*, we are building.
Come round 1 next year Adelaide Oval will be packed full, membership in the high 50,000's and the club in better shape than any time in the last 6 years. I can't be anything but optimistic, proud and super keen for the 2015 season. With some savvy recruiting ( we must go after Ryder with everything ) Port supporters can now expect, not hope, for a top 4 finish.
On Hawthorn, for a bloke with stumpy legs, a bit of soft belly and not a lot of pace, Sam Mitchell is an absolute gun. His ability to find time and space in traffic, win the ball, direct traffic when Hawthorn don't have the ball ( I watched him off the ball for a bit on Saturday, he marshals the Hawthorn press ) is as good as any. Ablett, Fyfe, Gray all get the plaudits this year, but on his day Mitchell is every bit the best player in the comp.
No shame in saying we had nobody to go with Roughead, he's almost impossible to have someone run with him when he goes into the middle and the star key forwards in the form he is in are hard to stop, very hard to stop.
One last thing on Port for now, Ken Hinkley. In Ken we trust.