Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says this time, it's different.
After Hinkley's side crushed Carlton by 90 points on Friday night, the Power have three wins and two losses after five rounds.
It's an identical set of results to Port's form after five rounds last year. And the year before that.
Port missed the finals in both those seasons. But this year, Hinkley says, it's different.
"We're a better team," Hinkley said after Port's 20.17 (137) to 6.11 (47) win over Carlton.
"We are playing better footy. We are playing more consistent, honest, united, tough - they are the words.
"But five games, it's a small sample size. The challenge for us is 22 games - and hopefully more."
Hinkley has a fresh concern ahead of next Saturday's away fixture against Brisbane with captain Travis Boak to have scans on an injured hamstring.
Boak left Adelaide Oval in the third quarter on Friday night and didn't return, but Hinkley said the injury was a knock rather than a torn muscle.
"He has got a cork in the hamstring which we weren't prepared to risk, obviously the game was going OK," he said.
"We will scan it ... we're not sure is the short answer but we will wait until Monday.
"He got a bit of a knee to the back of the hamstring and there was some pain and soreness there, so it was simple: no risk, leave him out."
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