Port Adelaide’s selection committee will no doubt have some debating to do before finalising the club’s team for Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.
With a relatively clean bill of health out of last week’s win over Richmond – Lachie Jones’ corked calf being the only minor concern – Port Adelaide could go into Saturday night with an unchanged line-up, though there is no shortage of players pushing for inclusion.
Among them is a trio of forwards, with Jed McEntee continuing to work through the concussion protocols and Tom Scully and Mitch Georgiades both putting in strong showings in a SANFL trial match last week.
McEntee missed the win over the Tigers after suffering a concussion in the Round 1 win over West Coast and still has to tick a few boxes before he can be cleared to play again.
Scully helped Port Adelaide turn its SANFL trial match against South Adelaide with four goals in 18 fourth quarter minutes, while Georgiades presented well, marked strongly and booted a goal as he continues to push for a first AFL game since suffering an ACL rupture early last season.
Given this week’s opponent, Melbourne, boasts one of the AFL’s best ruckmen in Max Gawn, the selectors could be tempted to bring in an extra ruck to support Ivan Soldo.
Soldo was excellent against his former side at the weekend against Tigers captain Toby Nankervis but Jordon Sweet and Dante Visentini were also strong contributors for the Magpies in the win over the Panthers.
Georgiades and Sweet were among last week’s AFL emergencies along with defender/wingman Tom Clurey, while Dylan Williams was the tactical substitute.
Port Adelaide will on Thursday evening name its side to tackle the Demons with first bounce on Saturday night at 7pm ACDT.
The game will be the 100th at AFL level for Todd Marshall.
