EXPERIENCED forward Steven Motlop is in the frame for a return to the Port Adelaide AFL line-up for Friday night’s blockbuster encounter with the Western Bulldogs.
Motlop has not featured at the level for a month, since suffering a syndesmosis injury and having ankle surgery.
The 30-year-old was among Port Adelaide’s better performers in its SANFL loss to Sturt at Unley Oval on Saturday afternoon in his return to the field. He had 20 disposals, three clearances and four inside 50s in a solid showing.
Another who found form for the Magpies was Sam Powell-Pepper who put his name firmly in the selection mix with a stand-out 30 disposal effort against the Double Blues.
Powell-Pepper worked hard up and down the ground, adding ten clearances, eight tackles and a goal to his stats sheet for good measure.
Defender Jarrod Lienert could not have possibly done any more to show he is ready to be recalled at AFL level. He had a game-high 33 disposals including eleven rebound 50s and a remarkable long goal as he continued to do his part to repel Sturt attacks.
Joel Garner booted 3.2 from 14 disposals. Playing as a forward, he was extremely impressive, taking nine marks – six of them contested, while offering a leading target.
Mid-season rookie Jed McEntee was also impressive against his former side. Coach Matthew Lokan said it was probably McEntee’s best game since coming to the club as he finished with 2.3 from 19 disposals, while also having two clearances and two tackles.
Reliable defender Trent McKenzie will also come into consideration if he can prove he has overcome hamstring tightness which kept him out of the AFL line-up last Saturday following eleven consecutive games.
Port Adelaide will name its side to face the Bulldogs on Thursday evening.
The game will be coach Ken Hinkley’s 200th in charge of Port Adelaide and midfielder Karl Amon’s 100th AFL game for the club.
