The Tigers finished on the bottom of the ladder with just three wins.

Crane was among a number of players who missed large chunks of the season through injury.

The 2008 Magarey Medal winner was restricted to just 13 games due to a hamstring complaint and a burst appendix.

Despite those interruptions Crane was able to finish runner-up in the Tigers’ best and fairest with ruckman Ben Malcolm winning the award.

Crane praised the efforts of Malcolm and the club’s other rising stars.

“He was huge for us, he rucked all year and did a terrific job,” Crane said.

“He got to play interleague and now winning the best and fairest is a really good result for him.

“He’s only 21 and that is the one positive to come out of the season for us, seeing these young blokes really find their feet at senior level.

“Most of those lads are staying on for next season and we are chasing some recruits so things are looking good.”

For Crane himself, 2016 presents an opportunity to get back and play his very best football.

In his 13 games this season he spent most of his time forward.

While he was a damaging player in this role, he is hoping to be even more value to his team when he reaches full fitness.

“I am really keen to have a big pre-season and get the body right,” Crane said.

“I enjoyed playing forward but the preference would be to be fit enough to go back into the midfield.

“With the young group we have I think having an experienced player in there with them would make a difference.” 

The 2015 season was the least successful for Portland since it came into the Hampden league in 2013.

In its debut year it finished in sixth place with eight wins, three games outside the top five.

In 2014 again it was eight wins and sixth place but it was only percentage that kept the Tigers out of finals. 

This season Portland missed out on finals in all grades. 

The winner of the Tigers’ reserves best and fairest was Hayden Dyke while Connor Peters won the under 18.5s.

In the netball Portland contested finals in A1, A2 and 13 and under without making a grand final.

Best and fairest winners in the netball were Lauren Hockley in A grade, Ellyse Humphries in A1 while league best and fairest Jenna Domburg won the club’s top award in A2.