UP to four Port Adelaide recruits could make their club debut this weekend, with the side set to take on West Coast at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.
Ivan Soldo, Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher are definite starters, while Jordon Sweet has been named on the extended interchange bench.
All four players arrived at Port Adelaide during last year’s trade period to fill key positions, such as those left by retiring players Tom Jonas and Scott Lycett.
Ratugolea and Zerk-Thatcher provide a big boost to the backline, with Soldo and Sweet bolstering the club’s ruck stocks.
Sam Powell-Pepper will serve the first week of his four-match suspension, while forward Ollie Lord is unavailable for selection due to injury.
The last time the Power took on the Eagles was in Round 6 of 2023 at Adelaide Oval, with the home side coming out on top by 40 points.
The 26-player squad will be whittled down to 23 on Friday afternoon, with the tactical substitute to be chosen from the interchange - which will be expanded to five at the time of selection in 2024 and then cut to four plus the sub an hour before bounce.
Sunday’s game starts at 3:30pm ACDT at Adelaide Oval, with the final team to be named at 4:30pm ACDT on Friday.
The Think! Road Safety Footy Express will be running this season, meaning all regular Adelaide Metro weekend bus, train and tram services are free with your game day ticket, from first to last service on game day.
At the game, our Kids Zone (located between the south and east stands, with access from inside the ground) will be up and running with face painting, handball targets and an activity station to feature. There will also be a player postcard giveaway and of course Thunda will be there too!
There will be a kick-to-kick post-match, so tell the kids to bring their footys.
Tickets are still available for the match.
Round 1 Extended Team Selection
B: R Burton 3, E Ratugolea 27, B Zerk-Thatcher 25
HB: L Jones 34, A Aliir 21, D Houston 5
C: M Bergman 14, C Rozee 1-C, T Boak 10
HF: D Byrne-Jones, T Marshall 4, J Horne-Francis 18
F: J McEntee 41, C Dixon 22, W Rioli 15
Foll: I Soldo 13, O Wines 16, Z Butters 9
I/C: K Farrell 6, J Burgoyne 7, J Finlayson 11, D Williams 23, J Sweet 24, W Drew 28, F Evans 31, J Mead 44
