PORT Adelaide’s recruiting over the past few years has been as good as any club in the competition.

If you look at the premiership-winning sides, one common theme is that they all excel in the area of picking players that make the difference between being a contender and the premier.

Look at Hawthorn for example — Josh Gibson, who won the best-and-fairest last year, was targeted from North Melbourne to strengthen its backline.

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Shaun Burgoyne was poached from Port Adelaide and can play anywhere on the ground.

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Jack Gunston came across from Adelaide and is now one of the keys in their forward line and was probably one goal away from winning last year's Norm Smith Medal.

And the bloke who stole it from him, Brian Lake, was picked up from the Western Bulldogs to bolster their defensive stocks for the next few years — and he did exactly that on the biggest day of his career.

That is unbelievable recruiting and if you look at Geelong and Sydney over a longer period they have been competition leaders in this area.

And that’s why Port Adelaide needs to target a key forward to complement what they already have and boost its premiership chances.

That’s not to say they can’t win it with their current team, because they can — but I’m talking about sustained success such as we’ve seen from the sides mentioned above.

Its backline has depth with the trade deal to get Jack Hombsch from GWS and the drafting of Tom Clurey.

The midfield also runs deep with several good years of quality recruiting and topped up over the summer with the trade of Jared Polec and free agent Matt White.

The rucks are covered with Matthew Lobbe, Jarrad Redden and the trade deal to get Brent Renouf.

But it’s the forward line that needs the finishing touches.

Port Adelaide people will be saying “hang on, we’ve got the Coleman Medal leader in Jay Schulz” and yes you have. But Jay Schulz is 29 and probably has only two to three good years left in front of him.

The other key forward is Justin Westhoff, who can play a variety of positions including ruck and loose at half back. The reason he’s playing as a key forward now is the Power hasn’t got anyone else and it just so happens he’s pretty handy at it.

The obvious player on the list to step up is John Butcher. Port tried him early in the season and while his effort and intentions can never be questioned, his injury-prone body and poor goalkicking are career-threatening issues.

media_camera John Butcher lines up for goal against West Adelaide in the SANFL. Picture Tom Huntley.

The easiest thing for Port is for Butcher to sort those issues out and live up to the expectations that come with being a No. 8 draft pick. Players picked that high are usually guns, hence his nickname in the early days “The Future”.

But right now the only future Port Adelaide needs to look at is the future of the whole team.

So how do the Power fill the void and get the player they are looking for?

You can either draft a young player, trade, do a combination of both or target a free agent.

Let’s have a look at those options.

THE DRAFT

The downside to being a good side is that your first pick in the draft doesn’t match your finishing position.

The way Port is going, its first pick is likely to be between 13-16, give or take a few. The good news for the Power is it’s not urgent and with Schulz and Westhoff playing good footy for a few more years they can afford to take time to develop a youngster from the draft.

They’re not going to get the best key-position player in the pool who is probably going to be Darcy Moore, son of Peter Moore, who will go with a father/son pick to Collingwood.

Names that will be on Port Adelaide’s radar will be Peter Wright (200cm forward/ruck from Calder Cannons), Hugh Goddard (cousin of Brendon), Paddy McCartin (tough competitor from the country) and two South Australians from West Adelaide in Jess Watchman (196cm key forward) and Sam Durdin (196cm key position).

THE TRADE TABLE

One player who should be strongly considered is South Australian Scott Lycett, who is at West Coast.

At 203cm, 98kg and currently in the Eagles’ best 22, with three years of development behind him, Lycett is a ready-made option for the Power.

But the Eagles know it and he won’t come cheaply. Maybe Port’s top two draft picks or their second pick and a player could broker the deal.

Maybe they could convince Adam Tomlinson, from the overstocked GWS which has Jeremy Cameron, Jonathan Patton and Tom Boyd, that his future opportunities may be brighter at the Power.

FREE AGENCY

The big name bandied around this season has been Bryce Gibbs but with a high price tag and not fitting the Power’s needs, Port should save their ammunition for a key forward.

But key forwards are slim pickings on this year’s free agency list.

So even while Port Adelaide is equal top of the ladder, has Jay Schulz leading the Coleman Medal and with its premiership window opening wider by the day, another key forward could well be the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle.