THE PAIN of Port Adelaide’s preliminary final loss to Hawthorn is still raw but skipper Travis Boak believes his side's potential for improvement in 2015 will be just the tonic.
The fast-finishing Power fell three points short of the Hawks in a thrilling finish and Boak said the anguish would fuel his teammates throughout the summer.
Speaking before flying out with Robbie Gray for Monday night's Brownlow Medal count, Boak was satisfied Port had the personnel to push for a premiership next year.
The continued development of Chad Wingard, Ollie Wines, Jasper Pittard and Jarman Impey, combined with the experience the past two finals campaigns have offered the group will make the club an imposing opposition.
Boak was confident little work would be required at the trade table for Port to power on.
"The side we have is pretty quality. I think we showed we can match it with the best sides and we can match it with Hawthorn," Boak said.
"There were certain areas that didn't work for us on the day, I guess, we kicked 3.9 in the first quarter ... you can't do that against a quality side in a prelim final.
"I think we've definitely got the right side but we need to go to another level again.
"[The preliminary final loss] still hurts and I think really, that's what's going to motivate us over the pre-season and next year."
Despite his confidence in the Power's current squad, Boak has already endorsed the club's pursuit of disenchanted Essendon ruckman Paddy Ryder.
Ryder told the Bombers on Friday he wanted to leave the club, with the Brisbane Lions appearing his most likely destination.
But the Power have also been linked to the mobile big man.
Boak played under-17 football with Ryder but, while the Port skipper will be in Melbourne on Monday, he said he wouldn't endeavour to meet with the big Bomber.
"We'll go over there and cheer on Robbie for tonight, that's pretty much what we'll do and hopefully we'll enjoy a good night," he said.
"List management will take care of [recruiting] and if we need to get involved, then we'll get involved."
