PORT ADELAIDE will head into round 1 with a near fully fit squad to select from and plenty of questions around who will take the field against West Coast on Sunday afternoon.
Forwards Ollie Lord (injured) and Sam Powell-Pepper (suspended) definitely won’t face the Eagles but just who takes their place at Adelaide Oval is up for debate.
In the tall forward department, the experienced Jeremy Finlayson and Mitch Georgiades are most likely to come into the side which most recently defeated Fremantle in the pre-season, though second-year tall Tom Scully has bulked up and impressed over the summer.
Georgiades has shown no ill effects following surgery last year to repair a ruptured ACL and would be playing his 50th AFL game if selected.
Francis Evans is well placed to retain a spot in the side in Powell-Pepper’s absence and was part of a 26-man squad that played the Dockers a fortnight ago. That team will now need to be cut to 23 before Sunday, leaving plenty to ponder.
Four players traded into the club in the off-season – Esava Ratugolea, Ivan Soldo, Jordon Sweet and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher – could make their official debut in Port Adelaide colours with a lot of attention since their arrival on who will be the preferred ruck option or whether the side will use two rucks.
On the wings, Miles Bergman, Travis Boak and Jase Burgoyne seem the frontrunners for selection while Jackson Mead’s pre-season form will cause some selection headaches in a midfield that will likely also include captain Connor Rozee, Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines, vice-captain Zak Butters, number one draft pick Jason Horne-Francis and leadership group member Willem Drew.
Port Adelaide will name an extended squad to tackle the Eagles on Thursday at 5:50pm ACDT before finalising its team on Friday afternoon.
First bounce at Adelaide Oval on Sunday is at 3:30pm with gates open from 1:30pm. Tickets are available here.
