This story originally appeared on AFL.com.au
PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has all but guaranteed defender Matthew Broadbent a spot in the side for the round one clash with Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.
Broadbent missed the entire JLT Community Series with a hamstring injury, but he is back to full training and available for selection.
His 146 games of experience will be vital for the Power, who have a young backline after the retirement of Alipate Carlile last year.
Half-back flanker Hamish Hartlett (127 games) is the only other defender with more than 100 games to his credit.
Tom Jonas and Jack Hombsch (71 games) will hold down key defensive posts and small defender Darcy Byrne-Jones (20 games) was a revelation last year.
Tom Clurey (18 games) will take on one of the Swans' tall forwards and 19-year-old rebounding defender Dan Houston is in line to make his debut.
Matthew Broadbent is firming as a Round 1 selection [pic: AFL]
The absence of All-Australian nominee Jasper Pittard with a hamstring injury places more importance on Broadbent's inclusion.
"(Broadbent) will certainly be in the mix," Hinkley told Sportsday SA.
"He's our most experienced defender, so with Jasper out it will be nice to bring Broady into the side.
"He'll be a little underdone, there's no doubt about that, but we look forward to getting him into the team."
The Swans have a multitude of tall forwards including Lance Franklin, Kurt Tippet and Sam Reid.
Hinkley said moving forward/ruckman Jackson Trengove back into his more familiar role into defence would be a last resort.
"We don't want to, but we wouldn't be frightened to do if we need to," Hinkley said.
"We have faith in those three talls.
"Tom Clurey has had some big jobs in the past and Jack Hombsch is incredibly reliable and with Tom Jonas, it doesn't matter what size he plays on, he has a real go."
