PORT ADELAIDE could have several club and AFL debutants in its side for its opening round clash with North Melbourne on Sunday.
New recruits Aliir Aliir (Sydney) and Orazio Fantasia (Essendon) put themselves firmly in the selection frame for a Round 1 club debut after each impressing in the club’s pre-season hit-out against Adelaide.
Fantasia booted three goals but could have had six in a promising performance that was cut short to rest him at half time of the 71-point win.
Aliir was dominant in the backline, taking 14 marks and showing his trademark agility and run off half back.
Defender Trent McKenzie (corked thigh) and forward Todd Marshall (bruised cheek) who each missed that game are available while leadership player Hamish Hartlett will need to prove he has overcome hamstring soreness to be in the frame for selection.
There are no shortage of young players pressing for an AFL debut including first-year defender Lachie Jones and second-year players Miles Bergman and Jackson Mead, who each looked comfortable at the level in the AAMI Community Series game.
Port Adelaide played 26 players in that game and will have to cut the squad to 22 to face the Kangaroos.
From the team that narrowly lost last year’s Preliminary Final, only Rozee (foot), Brad Ebert (retired) and Sam Powell-Pepper (personal leave) are unavailable and with plenty of depth, the selectors will have their job cut out for them.
Port Adelaide will on Saturday evening name its side to tackle the Roos, with first bounce at Marvel Stadium at 1:10pm AEDT / 12:40pm ACDT on Sunday.
