It was an up-and-down season for Port Adelaide, which rose to a 13-game win streak before crashing down in the semi-final against a blistering Giants outfit.
Though its young guns stood up throughout the year, the Power will be left pondering several underperforming veterans' futures.
Letter Grade: B-
The Sporting News takes a look at Port Adelaide's 2023 season.
Did Port Adelaide over/under achieve in 2023?
Port Adelaide jumped from an eleventh-placed finish last season into the third spot in 2023, but the fairy-tale comeback wasn't to be.
The Power were badly beaten in both finals, which will leave a sour taste in supporters' mouths –particularly after the club re-signed coach Ken Hinkley on a two-year deal earlier in the season.
A campaign that once seemed so promising fell awkwardly flat, and it leaves the club with a number of tough questions heading into next season.
For all the improvement and spectacular wins Port Adelaide managed this season, it was an underperforming finals series and a disappointing end.
MORE: Melbourne 2023 season review: Demons rue missed opportunities
What worked?
A midfield move for Zak Butters proved to be the way forward, with the young Power core showing plenty of upside in 2023.
Connor Rozee and young gun Jason Horne-Francis, who arrived after one season with North Melbourne, joined Butters in a speedy, creative on-ball unit.
Port Adelaide was at times too reliant on the young trio, though the experience and leadership of Butters and Rozee only grows.
What went wrong?
Live by the sword, die by the sword. The young Power midfield didn't get going in the finals and the rest of the team failed to pick up the slack.
Age and soreness appeared the get the better of key pillars Scott Lycett and Trent McKenzie, while Charlie Dixon looked a way off his best in Port Adelaide's season-ending loss to the Giants.
Ollie Wines, a Brownlow medallist, joins the list of experienced players to struggle for form at the club.
Hinkley will need to find a way to get the best out of both his young cohort and veterans next season, with 35-year-old Travis Boak's contract now a developing side story.
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Port Adelaide best player
Butters was at times untouchable in the Port Adelaide midfield and was a deserving winner of the AFLCA's Champion Player of the Year award.
Despite his modest frame, the 23-year-old star led his club in contested possessions, while ranking second for both clearances and score involvements.
Midfield partner Rozee was another standout, as was half-back Dan Houston, who earned an All-Australian blazer for his solid year.
Who should Port Adelaide target in the AFL trade period?
Port Adelaide will have its hands full with three players already requesting trades to the club.
Defenders Esava Ratugolea (Geelong) and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Essendon) would make valuable additions to a struggling backline, while Jordon Sweet (Western Bulldogs) could address a ruck issue.
None of the three are star signings, but they'll likely take some haggling to get at the right price.
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