PORT ADELAIDE assistant coach Josh Carr says captain Connor Rozee is a chance to play in Thursday night’s Showdown, but he concedes it is only a small chance.
Rozee sat out the end of Friday night’s win over St Kilda after experiencing hamstring tightness in the third quarter.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Carr said Rozee had pulled up well but the club was likely to take a cautious approach with the star midfielder, as it did with teammates Ollie Wines and Jason Horne-Francis earlier this season.
Carr also spoke about who could step up in the absence of defender Aliir Aliir, how unpredictable Showdowns are and the important role Sam Powell-Pepper will play for the club despite his season-ending knee injury.
Josh Carr on whether Connor Rozee will play on Thursday night following a minor hamstring injury:
“He's pulled up pretty well. It's still a little bit of wait and see. There was something there. He's not feeling it right now. Probably similar to Ollie (Wines) and Jase (Horne-Francis) to be honest so it'd be touch and go for this week. Most likely not. But who knows. We’ll wait and see.
“We have seen before where there's been scans where guys have got something and been able to play but we'll just wait and see. He obviously will be a test but there’ll be a bit of caution. He’s a chance but it’s probably a small chance. He's walking around, he can't feel anything while walking.
“Look, we won't put him out there if we feel like there's any risk in that stage. It looks like there's a little bit of risk but who knows, with the week, we’ll see how it plays out.”
Josh Carr on who will replace Aliir Aliir while he is in the AFL’s concussion protocols:
“We've got plenty of talls there obviously with Esava (Ratugolea) and Zerk (-Thatcher) down there and Miles Bergman went back on the weekend. Lachie Jones has played tall before, obviously Ryan Burton didn't play on the weekend so we feel like we've got enough options to play as far as the tools go to fill that role.”
Josh Carr on how hard it is to pick a winner in Showdowns:
“That’s what Showdowns are about, really, it doesn't really matter where you place on the ladder. It's always a big game. It's always a reasonably tight game. And you know, we were disappointed at the two Showdowns last year but that doesn't really affect what our mindset has gotten to this year. We attack every game the same, and I think it's more what you hear during the week, externally, with Showdowns that adds that little bit of extra pressure to the game. As far as preparation goes, we prepare the same as you would any other week.”
Josh Carr on whether forward Jeremy Finlayson could return after serving a three-game suspension:
“He'd be pretty good chance with obviously Pep (Sam Powell-Pepper) gone out and you know, the couple of injuries that we do have so he'd be around the round the mark when it comes to selection and he's no doubt put his hand up.”
Josh Carr on how Sam Powell-Pepper is following his season ending knee injury and whether he has spoken to him today:
“Not since he had surgery, which he's done today. So hopefully, all went well. It’s obviously a tough period for him but he's a really positive guy around the footy club and a really important cog in where we want to go, and he'll play an integral role this year with the spirit that he brings off the field to our playing group.”
Josh Carr on Willem Drew winning the Peter Badcoe VC Medal following last Friday’s Anzac Round win over St Kilda:
“Drewy has been outstanding now for obviously, more than just this year last year as well. And he's been a good player for this club for a period of time. So a bit of recognition for Drewy - he deserves it. He plays a really important role within the midfield and probably doesn't get the recognition that he deserves and is probably finally getting some.”
