MATTHEW Broadbent will captain Port Adelaide on Saturday afternoon against Richmond following news the Power will have no representation from its leadership group.
Stand-in senior coach Matthew Nicks revealed both Matthew Lobbe and Ollie Wines would sit out the club's second NAB Challenge match against Richmond in Albury, leaving Broadbent, effectively, as the club's most senior player.
Nicks told FIVEaa the inexperienced Power line-up would learn plenty from a game against a close-to-full-strength Richmond.
"The opportunity for the these younger guys, for the team to have a crack and match it against one of the better sides in the comp [is good] because they're nearly at full strength.
"Lobbes' won't play - Reddo's going to ruck - and we'll probably run Harvey as our second ruck.
"It's going to be quite a challenge for Harvs, but we've given him the challenge to play ruck.
"[Wines] won't be playing ... either."
Not having a regular captain in the team is nothing new to the Power, in 2014 Travis Boak and Brad Ebert were out of the side in one NAB Challenge game, handing the acting captaincy to Angus Monfries for one game.
In 2012, widespread injury also prevented the Power from having a member of the leadership group present in a regular-season game against Geelong.
Broadbent will lead an acting leadership trio, also consisting of Jack Hombsch and Jared Polec after all three missed the Power's 40-point win over West Coast last weekend.
For a player who grew up supporting Port Adelaide, the chance to lead his club - albeit in a NAB Challenge game - has significance.
"I grew up supporting Port Adelaide, so it's a little bit of a dream-come-true, even though it's only for the week," Broadbent told portadelaidefc.com.au in Albury.
But anyone expecting to see an internet-worthy captain's spray from the mild-mannered defender at half-time will need to think again.
"I might pull out something worthy of a YouTube video at half time ... actually I might just leave that to Boaky when he gets back," Broadbent laughed.
"We'll be taking it seriously out there and I'm looking forward to having a hit-out against some proper opposition after having a few long months training against teammates.
"There's a little bit more responsibility for us older guys, to get the younger players into the game and make them feel a little more comfortable and hopefully we can respond well as a team."
Port Adelaide plays Richmond at 4:40pm (local time) on Saturday afternoon, with a live telecast on FOX Footy and radio broadcast on FIVEaa (1395AM in SA). portadelaidefc.com.au will announces the Power's final team at 3:10pm (AEST)
