Port Adelaide will be out to avoid a hat-trick of AFL seasons out of the finals with the benefit of a much-changed playing list in 2010, says captain Domenic Cassisi.

The Power's players allowed themselves the frivolity of Mad Monday celebrations at the end of a year in which they improved marginally on the premiership table but disappointed greatly after pre-season pundits had them finishing around the top four.

There was a certain poignancy to the day, for all the players realise there will be significant changes to the playing squad given the clear failure of the current group to make any real progress after reaching the 2007 grand final.

"Things have got to change and there will be a few list changes and we'll have a new list next year," Cassisi said on Monday.

"When you have an average year as a club you know there'll be changes."

Power coach Mark Williams, who this year caused a significant distraction to the club by undergoing high-profile contract negotiations in mid-year, predicted an off-season of rigorous review to re-establish the standards that had slipped under his watch.

"You do take it a bit personally and you have to, and we know we have to improve in that area," said Cassis.

"I think what Choco (Williams) said was fair and we need to address it."

First-year skipper Cassisi admitted significant hurt at leading the club to a second consecutive season that ended before September.

"Yeah it does (hurt), being part of the finals every year, when we were doing that as a club you just got used to playing finals," he said.

"It's enjoyable and it's what you started out the year aiming to do. so it is very disappointing not to do it two years in a row and next year we need to make sure it's not three."

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