The Power have experimented with a number of different ruck combinations since losing dual All-Australian Brendon Lade to retirement at the end of last season.
Forward Justin Westhoff, rookie Cameron Cloke and defender Jackson Trengove have all been called upon at times to support lead big man Dean Brogan, but Williams said his side needed a second, bona fide big man to tackle St Kilda’s experienced ruck pairing of Steven King and Michael Gardiner.
“We felt that two genuine ruckmen going up against Dean probably meant that he needed a bit more help and that’s what Matthew Lobbe will provide,” Williams said on Friday.
“I know (Collingwood coach) Mick Malthouse often brings a new player into the Anzac Day game, so for Matthew Lobbe to be there, a young player going out against the odds to have a crack at Gardiner and King, who are great ruckmen he couldn’t get a bigger contest or opportunity to show what he can do.”
Promising young midfielder Hamish Hartlett will also play his first game of the season against the Saints, while Jay Schulz and Paul Stewart have been cleared to play after passing fitness tests at training on Friday.
Port Adelaide has lost convincingly to two, top-four fancies Geelong and the Brisbane Lions in the past fortnight and Williams said his team was determined to put in a better showing against league leaders St Kilda this weekend.
“It’s a huge challenge and you look forward to these opportunities," he said. "Last week against Geelong was a real disappointment.
"We couldn’t persist long enough and that’s one of the traits we’re looking to show this weekend.
“[The Saints] are not as good as they might be because Nick Riewoldt is out and he’s a wonderful player…but they’re a terrific team. They were so unlucky to miss out on winning a premiership last year and they’ve got a bit of a bee in their bonnet to try and prove things week-by-week and not just grand final day.”
The Anzac weekend clash between Port Adelaide and St Kilda has become a regular feature on the AFL calendar over the past six years.
To get into the Anzac spirit the Power players paid a visit to the HMAS Arunta on Friday, which will be docked in Adelaide until early next week, the team will also attend a dawn service at Henley Beach on Sunday.
Williams’ father and Port Adelaide legend, Fos, served on the HMAS Kiama and Williams said the visit to the Arunta held special significance for him and the team.
“A lot of the sailors here are the same age as my players and it’s important for them to experience what other people are doing at the same age,” Williams said.
“It’s about discipline, it’s about order, it’s about command and it’s about listening. All those things are what the armed forces and the Navy are built on.”
