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CAPTAIN Travis Boak has made it perfectly clear - Port Adelaide wants to hang onto full-forward Jay Schulz.
Schulz falls out of contract at season's end and has been linked to a move west to Fremantle, with negotiations at Alberton taking longer than many expected.
Port was also reportedly interested in luring Gold Coast bigman Charlie Dixon to the club, which – with salary space tight – would leave little room for Schulz.
Schulz's manager Liam Pickering said it'd be a mistake to let Schulz leave and, speaking before training on Monday, Boak said he also wanted the sharpshooter around next year.
"That's something for Schulzy and the club to sort out, [but] as a playing group we'd love to have Schulzy still at the club," Boak said.
"He's a fantastic player for this group."
Boak described the club's 64-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at the weekend as unacceptable and challenged his teammates to find the hunger that took them to last year's preliminary final.
'We crumbled today'
After the loss, coach Ken Hinkley said the Power had fallen into the trap of complacency "big time" this season.
With its 2015 finals hopes dashed, the skipper said the playing group had a month to prove to itself that it wanted to be a contender in 2016.
"We've got to be hungry for the next four weeks and certainly show our supporters, and ourselves really…that we want to be a part of something going forward as a club," he said.
"That stems from being hungry and being tough…for whatever reason it hasn't been there each week and that's, again, really frustrating.
"We've got the group that really does drive to succeed but we haven't been able to produce it for a long period of time."
Other than announcing his desire for Schulz to remain at the club, Boak refused to comment on whether changes were needed on Port's playing list ahead of next year.
He also said he'd leave it to Hinkley to discuss whether it was time to blood fresh talent before the end of the season.
But he flagged the possible returns of senior players Angus Monfries and Tom Jonas after strong performances in the SANFL.
Monfries collected 26 possessions and booted four goals, while Jonas provided good rebound from defence in the one-sided win.
Kane Mitchell was dominant, with his 38 possessions including 15 clearances and a goal.
"For 'Gussy' and 'Tommy' along with Kane Mitchell as well…those guys who play good footy and consistent good footy like Sammy Gray did, will come into the side and get rewarded," he said.
"Players who are in good form will get rewarded and certainly players who aren't playing at the standard in the AFL level will obviously pay the price and go back to the SANFL."
