PORT ADELAIDE will use its SANFL trial against North Adelaide on Friday night to help the side gel after the inclusion of a number of new faces in the off-season.
The Magpies have recruited strongly in the off-season but a change in the SANFL structure has meant the club has foregone its reserves set-up in favour of more ability to sign and retain quality footballers.
Among the signings are leadership player Cam Sutcliffe who spent the last seven seasons at Fremantle, playing 104 AFL games, former SANFL reserves Magarey Medallist Matt Appleton and former Magpies Tom Corcoran and Adam Mahney.
Coach Matthew Lokan told portadelaidefc.com.au that eleven SANFL-contracted players and 13-AFL listed players will take on the Roosters at Alberton on Friday night.
He said it would be the first chance many would have had to don the prison bars and play together.
“It’s just another opportunity for our younger guys to play together,” Lokan said.
“The SANFL guys and the AFL guys haven’t done much training together so to be able to have a competitive hit-out against someone else is exciting.
“It’s exciting for the whole group.
“I think the AFL guys got a lot out of playing that Under 23 trial game against the Crows last weekend and hopefully the SANFL guys get the same tonight.”
With extreme heat forecast the game is likely to be reduced to 20-minute quarters and extra breaks may be taken during quarters.
Port Adelaide’s AFL side is in Port Pirie for its JLT Community Series game against Adelaide on Saturday, naming a 26-man squad due to the extra interchange allocation.
Lokan said coming up against the reigning SANFL premiers on Friday night without a few extra AFL-listed players would be a tough ask for his young Magpies.
“We’ll be young as well because the AFL team is able to play 26 players with an increased interchange bench,” he said.
“It obviously takes a few out of our SANFL side but it’s an opportunity for our SANFL guys to play some good minutes and get themselves primed for round 1.
“We’ve done a power of work over the summer, the boys have run some serious k’s but it’ll be nice to have a full game with a full 18 players out on the field.”
Port Adelaide faces North Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Friday night from 6pm with free entry for supporters.
