PORT ADELAIDE is unlikely to make many personnel changes for Sunday’s SANFL Elimination Final against Central District but will be looking for a different outcome to when the sides met last weekend, according to coach Tyson Goldsack.
The Magpies led for most of the Round 18 clash at Elizabeth on Saturday before being overrun by a last quarter surge by the Bulldogs.
As an AFL-aligned club, Port Adelaide has some restrictions on the players it can select for this week’s do-or-die rematch including a rule that anyone who featured in Sunday’s AFL win over Richmond cannot play.
Speaking at the SANFL Finals launch on Tuesday, Goldsack said there was some benefit to having the AFL side playing finals, but that would not include much change at selection this week.
“They’re not going to be wholesale changes,” the first-year coach said, explaining the challenges of having dual finals campaigns to navigate.
“We might potentially have to field a player who they only want us to give 50 per-cent game time to, to get him right for the next week so there are pros and cons to it all and we’ll just see what happens.
“Most of the guys who played last week we’re likely to roll out again. We’ll work on the areas of the game that worked for us and try to maintain that for longer periods, which we were unable to do last weekend.”
Asked by a reporter how seriously the club would be taking its first SANFL finals campaign since 2019, Goldsack was unequivocal.
“We’re there to support the AFL team all year but now that we’ve made it this far, we’re keen to see it through,” he said.
“If we can win the whole thing, that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Rather than venture up the Salisbury Highway for this meeting, Port Adelaide will enter neutral territory at Adelaide Oval.
Goldsack said that may give his side a slight advantage, but the Magpies would need to play a stronger game than last week to progress.
“It’s hard going to the Ponderosa with the crowd, and they know it really well out there,” he said of playing at Elizabeth while looking over Adelaide Oval. “(But) I can’t imagine it gives us too much advantage to play here.
“There might be half a dozen or ten blokes who’ve played here before but it’s just a footy ground at the end of the day.
“We’ll just work on our structure and our game plan, and executing better than last week.”
If fit, defender Trent McKenzie and forward Charlie Dixon could be called upon, although Goldsack suggested that would be unlikely this week.
However, unused AFL emergency Brynn Teakle will be available for selection and Scott Lycett could get more minutes after returning from knee surgery last weekend. The ruckman played in an unfamiliar forward role against the Bulldogs as he builds his fitness.
“He got enough minutes, not necessarily in the position he’d be playing in the AFL,” Goldsack said.
“He’s not a natural forward, I think he’d be ok with me saying that, but he moved around alright. He looked good and he felt good and if he plays again this week, he’ll be better for the run last week.”
Port Adelaide will tackle Central District at Adelaide Oval from 12:15pm on Sunday. Tickets to the game can be purchased here or at the gate.
Adelaide Oval Football Members, Essential Power Members all gain entry to the four weeks of SANFL Finals.
SANFL Club Members and AFL Club Season Ticket Holders do not have access to the SANFL Finals Series included in their Membership package and will be required to purchase tickets.
Port will name its side for the match on Thursday evening.
