He replaces Jasper Pittard who failed to recover from general soreness after Friday’s training session at AAMI Stadium.
Stevenson was originally omitted from Port Adelaide’s starting 22 and was named an emergency.
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Director of coaching and strategy Alan Richardson told portadelaidefc.com.au the decision to withdraw Pittard from the match was made after giving him "every opportunity" to be ready for the game.
“Jasper is not playing because he’s had a bit of general soreness from the game against the Suns, but we certainly thought that he’d come up (in time for tonight’s game) and therefore gave him every opportunity right up until this morning,” said Richardson.
“Given he’s only played 15 games and missed a lot of footy (last year), he doesn’t have a great history of durability.
“We just want to make sure that he’s fully right to go when he (eventually) plays and we fully expect him to play next week.”
Richardson says it is a logical move to bring Stevenson back into the team and that his original omission from the final 22 was not form-based.
“The reason he (Stevenson) was out was because we had one too many defenders once we’d made the decision to bring Paul Stewart back in,” he explained.
“West Coast have a big forward line – Kennedy, Darling, Cox or Sinclair, LeCras – and we had to go in with a bigger defence and one of Pittard or Stevo would miss out.
“It wasn’t a decision based on form, it was just ‘horses for courses’”
“Now with Jasper out Stevo has the opportunity to come back in.”
The first bounce on Saturday night will be at 7:15pm, preceded by a traditional ANZAC Observance Ceremony, including the Last Post and one minute’s silence.
Port Adelaide Round 5 team v West Coast Eagles
1. Travis Boak
3. Campbell Heath
4. Brent Renouf
5. Matthew Broadbent
6. Angus Monfries
7. Brad Ebert
8. Hamish Hartlett
9. Robbie Gray
12. Jackson Trengove
13. Cameron O'Shea
14. Paul Stewart
15. Lewis Stevenson
16. Oliver Wines
18. Kane Cornes
20. Chad Wingard
23. Matthew Lobbe
25. Dom Cassisi
27. Alipate Carlile
28. Jay Schulz
32. Jake Neade
39. Justin Westhoff
42. Tom Jonas
In: Paul Stewart, Lewis Stevenson (into 22)
Out: Jasper Pittard (general soreness)
Milestones: Kane Cornes – 250 games
