PORT ADELAIDE may have a near full squad to choose from come this weekend with five players potentially able to return from injury including young guns Lachie Jones and Josh Sinn.
Jones has missed the last two games after suffering a hamstring strain in the loss to Fremantle in Round 16. While he had hoped to be available for the trip to Alice Springs to face Melbourne, he is closing in on a return, needing to complete all training this week to be cleared for selection.
Sinn has not played since the Round 2 loss to Hawthorn, but the pick 12 in last year’s draft has been in full training in recent weeks after overcoming a groin injury. He will be assessed for a return this week, most likely through the SANFL.
Midfielder Trent Dumont could return from a calf injury which has sidelined him since he was subbed off during the Round 13 game against Richmond. The 27-year-old will be looking to prove his fitness to return this week alongside forward Orazio Fantasia, who has returned to full training and is expected to play.
Mid-season draftee Brynn Teakle is also expected to be available, having joined in on full training last week following surgery on the broken collarbone he suffered in his AFL debut against Sydney in Round 14.
Fellow ruckman Scott Lycett has left hospital following a procedure to wash-out his right shoulder after signs of a potential infection last week. While it appears there was no infection, he will remain on a course of antibiotics, and a timeframe for his return will become clearer over the coming week.
Port Adelaide will on Thursday evening name its sides to face Geelong in the AFL and Central District in the SANFL in a Saturday double-header at Adelaide Oval and Woodville Oval respectively.
Injury list
Trent Dumont – calf (assess)
Orazio Fantasia – quad (assess)
Lachie Jones – hamstring (assess)
Scott Lycett – shoulder (TBC)
Jake Pasini – knee (season)
Josh Sinn – groin (assess)
Brynn Teakle – collarbone (assess)