AS Port Adelaide ran onto the field for its final pre-game warm-up on Saturday afternoon, named emergency Aaron Young was escorted to a taxi to take him to the airport.

His focus was already on Sunday's all-important SANFL encounter between Port Adelaide and Norwood at Alberton - a game in which he would play an important running role.

To ensure ample preparation for the game, Young needed to be on the last flight back to Adelaide that day, departing the Gold Coast shortly after the start of the game at Metricon. 

But as Young was nearing Coolangatta, a scramble to get him back to the Power-Suns game was unfolding.

Angus Monfries's hip flexor was failing to respond in the warm-up and he was forced to withdraw from the game.

It meant Andrew Moore removing the sub vest and laying it across a chair on the interchange bench to await Young - the player who wasn't there.

In a last gasp call, the Power's football administration instructed Young to turn his taxi around and come back to Metricon Stadium.

Forget Norwood, you're playing in the AFL now, Youngy.

"I was on the way to the airport, about halfway there, and got the call to turn around," Young told portadelaidefc.com.au after Saturday's game.

"The driver was good, he got the speed on and got me there about halfway through the first quarter.

"It was bizzare, I'd already checked into my flight the night before and was starting to think about Sunday's game against Norwood.

"It was probably good in the end [getting the call], I just went out there as sub and played game in tough conditions - I love those conditions."



Senior coach Ken Hinkley said after the game making a late injury change in the minutes leading up to the first bounce was something few AFL sides would be prepared for.

And with Tom Logan having replaced Jackson Trengove in the lead-up to the match, he was left thankful for rostering two emergencies to fly with the team.

“[Young] was halfway back to the airport. He got caught in a bit of a traffic jam on his way back to the game – can you believe that – there’s not much traffic on the Gold Coast,” Hinkley said.

“We were mindful, but ten minutes before the game you think you’re pretty safe.

“It’s only happened once that I remember before, that was at the MCG with Geelong.

“It can throw you a bit, especially a minute and a half before the game.

“Monfries, in the last warm up…couldn’t kick the ball. His hip flexor just went on him.

“Fortunately, I suppose, we brought two emergencies up.”