IN: Bonner, Duursma, McKenzie, Motlop
OUT: McEntee (medical substitute)
PORT ADELAIDE could take an unchanged team of 22 into its clash with reigning premiers Melbourne in Alice Springs on Sunday afternoon.
The coaches at Alberton could opt to back in the side that was victorious against GWS Giants a week prior, but could equally be tempted by the return to fitness and form of several others outside of the side.
Port has named an extended squad of 26, with the only omission from last Saturday’s game being unused medical substitute, Jed McEntee.
The hard-running duo of Steven Motlop and Xavier Duursma could potentially be in line for a recall after strong SANFL showings against Woodville-West Torrens.
Joining them as potential inclusions on an extended bench is the long-kicking pair of Riley Bonner and Trent McKenzie, the former having recovered from a facial fracture and the latter a late omission from the side that beat the Giants with a non-Covid related illness.
Rounding out the extended interchange is the versatile Miles Bergman, high-flying Mitch Georgiades and father-son duo Jase Burgoyne and Jackson Mead.
Port will on Friday finalise its 22 to face the Demons, with the medical substitute to be named from the resulting emergencies and hour before first bounce at TIO Traeger Park.
One who will not be making the trip north is ruckman Scott Lycett, who cannot be called upon to face the premiership duo of Max Gawn and Luke Jackson after signs of infection were discovered in his shoulder earlier this week.
Action against the Demons gets underway from 2:50pm ACST.
Round 18 Team Selection
B: R. Burton 3, T. Jonas-C 1, T. Clurey 17
HB: D. Byrne-Jones 33, A. Aliir 21, D. Houston 5
C: K. Amon 15, W. Drew 28, K. Farrell 24
HF: Z. Butters 18, T. Marshall 4, C. Rozee 20
F: R. Gray 9, C. Dixon 22, S. Powell-Pepper 2
Foll: J. Finlayson 11, O. Wines 16, T. Boak 10
I/C: S. Motlop 6, X. Duursma 7, T. McKenzie 12, M. Bergman 14, M. Georgiades 19, R. Bonner 26, J. Burgoyne 36, J. Mead 44
