IN: Aliir, Finlayson, Gray, Hayes
OUT: Jones (H&S), Lycett (shoulder), Mayes (omitted), McEntee (omitted), Wines (illness)
ALIIR ALIIR and Robbie Gray will return from injury and Sam Hayes will make his AFL debut in Port Adelaide’s Easter Sunday game against Carlton.
Hayes – the 47th pick in the 2017 national draft - gets his AFL opportunity because fellow big man Scott Lycett was ruled out after dislocating his right shoulder last week against Melbourne.
22-year-old Hayes stands at 205cm and weighs 102kg, and claimed the A.R. McLean Medal as the club’s SANFL best and fairest last year.
Supporters were able to catch a glimpse of him against AFL opposition in the pre-season matches against Gold Coast and Adelaide.
All-Australians Aliir and Gray return having not played since the Round 1 loss to Brisbane with the defender back to full fitness following ankle surgery and the experienced forward overcoming knee soreness and a stint isolating under Health and Safety protocols.
Forward Jeremy Finlayson also returns to the side following a six-goal haul in the SANFL against South Adelaide last Saturday.
Along with Lycett, Ollie Wines is out of the game following his heart concern last week, Lachie Jones is in isolation, and Sam Mayes and Jed McEntee have been omitted.
Mayes and McEntee are among the emergencies, along with defender Sam Skinner and forward Dylan Williams.
The medical substitute will be named from the emergency list shortly before Sunday’s game, which gets underway at the MCG at 1:40pm AEST / 1:10pm ACST.
The game will only be shown live on Fox Footy or Kayo. The free to air broadcast on Channel 7 will be delayed into South Australia until 3:30pm.
Round 5 Team Selection
B: R. Burton 3 A. Aliir 21 T. Clurey 17
HB: R. Bonner 26 T. Jonas -C 1 D. Byrne-Jones 33
C: D. Houston 5 W. Drew 28 K. Amon 15
HF: M. Bergman 14 M. Georgiades 19 C. Rozee 20
F: J. Finlayson 11 T. Marshall 4 S. Powell-Pepper 2
Foll: S. Hayes 25 Z. Butters 18 T. Boak 10
I/C: S. Motlop 6 R. Gray 9 T. Dumont 43 J. Mead 44
Emergencies: D. Williams 23 S. Skinner 31 S. Mayes 32 J. McEntee 41
