IN: J Rioli
OUT: Q Narkle, J Sinn (omitted)
LAST WEEK’S SUB: R Bonner
Junior Rioli will return to Port Adelaide’s 22 against Essendon this weekend after being a late withdrawal from the previous match with illness.
Rioli missed the Power’s Round 14 win after going down with the flu, making way for electric recruit Quinton Narkle to make his first AFL appearance for the club.
Port Adelaide will be looking to buck the post-bye trend by keeping largely consistent with selection, with Narkle and young winger Josh Sinn the only players to be omitted.
The two clubs last met just eight weeks ago at Adelaide Oval, with Port Adelaide managing to hold onto its lead to secure a clutch, five-point win.
The Power will be hoping to snatch its 12th win in a row, while the home side will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 32-point loss last weekend to 11th-placed Fremantle.
Narkle, along with Jase Burgoyne, Dante Visentini and captain Tom Jonas have been named emergencies, with those not required in Melbourne allowed to play in the SANFL on Saturday.
The tactical substitute will be selected from among the emergencies and announced one hour before the first bounce at 7:10pm ACST.
Round 16 Team Selection
B: R Bonner 26, T McKenzie 12, D Houston 5
HB: K Farrell 6, A Aliir 21, D Williams 23
C: M Bergman 14, J Horne-Francis 18, W Drew 28
HF: Z Butters 9, T Marshall 4, T Boak 10
F: D Byrne-Jones 33, C Dixon 22, S Powell-Pepper 2
Foll: S Lycett 29, O Wines 16-C, C Rozee 20
I/C: R Burton 3, J Finlayson 11, J Rioli 15, J McEntee 41
Emergencies: T Jonas 1, J Burgoyne 36, D Visentini 38, Q Narkle 47
