Port Adelaide ruck Dante Visentini is feeling optimistic after signing a two-year contract extension this week, ensuring his stay at the club until at least the end of 2027. The 22-year-old, who is entering his fourth year at Port Adelaide, expressed his excitement during an interview with the club's media team, reflecting on his enjoyment of the first three seasons and the camaraderie he shares with teammates.
“Obviously, to have it done early in the year is really nice, so I can just focus on footy. But yeah, super happy with the club and where we're at and I’m going to my fourth season now. I’ve enjoyed my first three and just very happy to be here for a few more,” Visentini said.
Visentini highlighted the strong relationships he has formed at the club, stating, “Definitely the people. I think we've got really good people across the board… our fans and the way they turn up on game day… it’s just really exciting to be part of it.”
After undergoing post-season knee surgery, Visentini reflected on the challenges of the pre-season and how it has contributed to his growth. He mentioned, “It’s been really different… it’s also been good… I feel like I've gotten stronger and had a lot of improvement there.” His focus on resilience bodes well for his performance as the season approaches.
The ruckman is eager to learn from teammates Ivan Soldo and Jordon Sweet, sharing, “I feel like I’ve been able to learn a lot… I’m looking forward to another season with them.” He recounted his breakout game against Geelong last year, calling it “the best win I've had on a football field.”
Meanwhile, fans gathered excitedly for Port Adelaide’s first pre-season match against Adelaide Crows, filling Mt Barker’s Summit Sport and Recreation Park with over 5,000 supporters. The game, held under warm 33-degree conditions, allowed spectators their first glimpse of the club's new recruits, including Joe Richards, Jack Lukosius, and Joe Berry. It also marked the return of Sam Powell-Pepper, who had spent nearly ten months recovering from ACL surgery.
Assistant Coach Tyson Goldsack assessed the performance after the match, describing it as “scrappy,” which is often the case for pre-season games. He stated, “It was okay, it was scrappy... we got to trial some things out.” Despite acknowledging areas needing improvement, Goldsack noted the importance of testing strategies, stating, “It’s nice coming away from the game with things to work on clearly.”
Highlighting individual performances, Goldsack praised players like Jason Horne-Francis and Darcy Byrne-Jones. Horne-Francis shined with his contest skills and intercept marking, and Byrne-Jones was notable for scoring three goals. Goldsack also remarked on Lukosius's performance, sharing, “He was moving nicely, working with Mitch Georgiades nicely, so it’s a good start again.”
Richards made an impact with his first unofficial goal for Port Adelaide, and Ollie Lord added to the scoreboard with impressive accuracy from the 50-metre line.
“(Richards and Berry) are such high workers up the ground, so they give us really good shape on the ground… they’re pretty clever users of the ball,” Goldsack commented on the rookie players’ contributions. Their work rate is seen as beneficial for the team’s overall play.
Miles Bergman was called upon to play taller due to injuries to Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and Esava Ratugolea, where he made notable contributions. Goldsack emphasized, “I think you rob him of other parts of his game if you try and play him on a key too often… he was pretty calm with ball in hand.”
Looking forward, Port Adelaide finds excitement for their next pre-season match during the AAMI Community Series on March 1 against St Kilda. This upcoming game will be pivotal as the team continues to build cohesion and momentum heading toward the regular season.
With new faces and returning talents, there’s palpable optimism within the Port Adelaide Football Club as they prepare for what promises to be another thrilling season.