After two losses to Essendon and Sydney, Port Adelaide is at a critical point in its season opening and needs to defeat Collingwood this weekend to square the ledger at two-and-two.
After the disappointing loss to the Swans at home last week, coach Matthew Primus has swung the axe - with premiership ruckman Brent Renouf making his debut for Port Adelaide alongside ex-Carlton and Crows midfielder Darren Pfeiffer, who has excelled in the SANFL in recent weeks.
Emerging forward John Butcher also returns to the side after recovering from a hamstring injury and will line up on the half forward flank - creating an almost full strength Power forward line, joining Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Justin Westhoff and young gun Chad Wingard.
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Matt Thomas and Cameron O’Shea have been omitted from the side, with Jarrad Redden being rested after maintaining majority ruck duties for the first three rounds.
Midfield coach Shaun Rehn believes that the inclusions for this week’s team strengthen Port Adelaide’s ability to take on Collingwood.
“Brent Renouf has played for Norwood - a reserves game and two League games. He’s got those games under his belt and we’re confident he can come in and fill the void left by Redden,” Rehn told PortAdelaideFC.com.au.
“Pfeiffer got games in the NAB Cup and performed really well, really consistently and really didn’t put a foot wrong, but got squeezed out of the side as it got reduced from 25 to 22.
Rehn told PortAdelaideFC.com.au that despite some big outs for the opposition, Port Adelaide expects what will effectively be one-for-one changes at Collingwood.
“We think thus far that we’ve been able to compete with every engine room (in 2012) - and we’ve been preparing for all of those Collingwood players who are now out (Heath Shaw, Dale Thomas and Luke Ball).
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“We expect the equivalent types of players to be coming in though with Collingwood’s depth.
“We’re also not forgetting that the last time we met it was a 138-point loss here in Adelaide, so coming from where we’re coming there needs to be a pretty big turn around (from Port Adelaide).
“That’s the way we have approached this game. They’re playing at their home (Etihad Stadium) - but we feel confident.”
Round 4 continues Port Adelaide’s tough run against 2011 finalists with Collingwood being the highest ranked of last year’s teams (grand finalist, second) that the Power plays in the opening four rounds.
The Power remain firm underdogs in the clash, but with the depleted Collingwood lineup and Port Adelaide’s strongest by far this year, a cliffhanger game beckons.
Port Adelaide’s forward and backlines are evenly matched against their opponents, but the Power must curb the influence of Brownlow winner Dane Swan and dangerous forwards Alex Fasolo and Travis Cloke.
Collingwood has been struck by numerous omissions through injury, with the likes of Luke Ball, Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw all ruled out during the week. It has also had criticisms leveled at its defensive third on Friday morning.
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Port Adelaide senior coach Matthew Primus says that despite the seeming injury jinx at Olympic Park, Collingwood will come out firing.
“I know what effort they (Collingwood) will give.
“We need to prepared to match them and we’re under no illusions what kind of fierce battle it will be regardless of what names we’re up against.
“We know they’re going to be up and ready for four quarters and if we’re not, it’s not going to be a very good day for us.”
The match gets underway at 2.10pm (local time EST) and PortAdelaideFC.com.au will have quarter-by-quarter updates with live social interaction on Facebook and Twitter via the #aflmagpiespower and #pafclive hashtags.
Key points
The Power remain firm underdogs in the clash, but with the depleted Collingwood lineup and Port Adelaide’s strongest by far this year, a cliffhanger game beckons.
Port Adelaide’s forward and backlines are evenly matched against their opponents, but the Power must curb the influence of Brownlow winner Dane Swan and dangerous forwards Alex Fasolo and Travis Cloke.
Collingwood has been struck by numerous omissions through injury, with the likes of Luke Ball, Dale Thomas and Heath Shaw all ruled out during the week. It has also had criticisms leveled at its defensive third on Friday morning.
[ Related: Primus Wary Of Pies ]
Port Adelaide senior coach Matthew Primus says that despite the seeming injury jinx at Olympic Park, Collingwood will come out firing.
“I know what effort they (Collingwood) will give.
“We need to prepared to match them and we’re under no illusions what kind of fierce battle it will be regardless of what names we’re up against.
“We know they’re going to be up and ready for four quarters and if we’re not, it’s not going to be a very good day for us.”
The match gets underway at 2.10pm (local time EST) and PortAdelaideFC.com.au will have quarter-by-quarter updates with live social interaction on Facebook and Twitter via the #aflmagpiespower and #pafclive hashtags.
Key points
Match: Round 4
Opponent: Collingwood
Head to Head: Port Adelaide 9, Collingwood 12
Venue: AAMI Stadium
Uniform: Away jumper - white with black and teal Vs, white shorts, black socks with white hoop
Opponent uniform: black with white stripes.
Captain: #1 Dom Cassisi
Local Live Coverage: Quarter by Quarter on PortAdelaideFC.com.au, Facebook, Twitter, TV broadcast live on Seven Network and FOX Footy, Radio on ABC 891AM, FiveAA 1395AM and Triple M 104.7FM.
