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Primus won't swing axe

Primus won't swing axe

09/09/2010 03:56:14 AM

New Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus won't be overhauling the Power's list, the former ruckman 'excited' by a team he believes is on the verge of a similar period of success to the one his predecessor Mark Williams took over a decade ago.

Speaking on Thursday morning after being unveiled as Williams' permanent replacement, having guided the club to five wins after filling the role in a caretaker capacity for the final seven rounds of 2010, Primus was bullish about the Power's prospects.

"No I don't," Primus responded confidently when asked if he believes the list needs major changes.

"I think we have a lot of talent on our list."

"I don't think we have huge gaps in our list but we've got some good picks in the draft and we may be able to get some more quality picks maybe so we'll try and get some talent and identify a few areas where we need to improve on."

"But the overall side of the list I think is pretty exciting and we're keen to develop what we have here and bring in some new players."

Expecting to make between four and six changes over the coming weeks once he's had time to assess the list properly, one of Primus' first tasks could be to convince both Daniel Motlop and Steven Salopek to stay, with both believed to be considering moving on.

"We'll sit down and talk with those players now that we've finalised who the senior coach is and look at what they really want to do and what we want to do and that will sort itself out in the next couple of weeks too," he added.

"Obviously it's a big fortnight coming up for the club so we'll sit down with them, 'Mots' is contracted and Steven has been made aware that we would like to keep him here and he's a valuable part of our team."

"We certainly haven't given up (on Motlop staying) we just haven't discussed what's going on with Mots."

"We'll let him play at SANFL and see if he can get his body right."

More long-term though Primus sees plenty of similarities between the list he has helped to build over the five years since he became an assistant coach following his retirement and the one that Williams took over when he succeeded John Cahill at the end of 1998.

"We had a pretty young list then that had just come together for two years when we came into the competition and they had a few games' experience and I probably see it as similar to that," Primus said.

"We've got players from all over the countryside that have really bonded with each other pretty well and a lot of great young players signed over the last couple of years which means they're keen on pushing this club and improving where we are."

"I'm just thrilled to be a part of that and work with them and understand that I'm the senior coach but that I'll rely on the coaches around me and rely on the players (because) we're all in it together and hopefully together we can push forward and create something special amongst each other."

 

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