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IT will be a testing day at training at AAMI Stadium on Thursday with as many as six players to undergo fitness tests to prove they are right for Sunday’s twilight clash with the Hawks.
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PortAdelaideFC.com.au takes a look at who’s in the mix for both the Power and the Hawks ahead of the Round 11 clash at AAMI Stadium.
Port Adelaide
With three wins a row, it’s hard to see the Power making too many changes, but there’ll be at least one forced change with Travis Boak’s foot surgery sidelining the reigning John Cahill Medalist for a month.
John McCarthy is the logical replacement, but he faces a fitness test to prove he’s recovered from the corked calf which kept him out of the win over the Blues. McCarthy’s form up to that point in the season had been stellar, which means if he’s fit, he’ll be back.
If McCarthy doesn’t come up, Tom Logan is likely to be the next in line following a player of the week performance in the SANFL. Logan racked up 27 touches and was praised by the development coaches for his toughness, something the senior coach has been demanding of his players all year.
Aaron Young made a successful return from an ankle injury through the SANFL and is another who could replace Boak. David Rodan had a quiet game by his usual standards for Norwood, which could make it difficult for him to be selected in Round 11.
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An injury cloud hangs over Jay Schulz’s head and his failure to come up in time for Sunday’s clash would be a huge blow for the hosts, given Schulz leads the Power’s goalkicking with 22 goals.
But the Power has tall options should Schulz be ruled out. John Butcher is a chance to return from a hip injury while Daniel Stewart could also fill a hole in the forward line following an impressive display in the SANFL for North Adelaide where he kicked two goals and looked dangerous in the air.
Expect Jasper Pittard and Cameron Hitchcock to be eased back into competitive action through the SANFL following extended layoffs with hamstring injuries.
Many of the match committee’s decisions will hang on reports from the club’s medicos.
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The Power will hold a closed training at AAMI Stadium on Thursday.
Who do you think should be in the side for Round 11? Have your say at the bottom of the page.
Hawthorn
The Hawks will be forced to make at least one change with the suspension of midfielder Jordan Lewis for rough conduct.
With Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill not playing an official game for two weeks, the Hawks played a scratch match against Richmond’s reserves with Xavier Ellis starring in the match.
The performance may well see him as the frontrunner to replace Lewis, although veteran Cameron Bruce and defender Kyle Cheney will also be pushing for selection following good performances in Box Hill’s last hit-out - an 81-point win over North Ballarat.
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Jack Gunston also starred in that match with seven majors and he could place pressure on the selectors to choose him ahead of Shane Savage, who was quiet in the Hawks’ demolition of the Roos in Launceston last week.
The Hawks will again be without skipper Luke Hodge and the lively Chance Bateman, who are both injured.
Hawthorn travels to Adelaide on Saturday.
Both teams will announce their line-ups at 5.55pm on Thursday, you can see them first here.
Port Adelaide injury list
John Butcher, hip - test
John McCarthy, calf - test
Jasper Pittard, hamstring - test
Cam Hitchcock, hamstring - test
Aaron Young, ankle - test
Jay Schulz, ribs - test
Mitch Banner, knee - 3 weeks
Nick Salter, foot - 3 weeks
Travis Boak, foot - 4 weeks
Robbie Gray, knee - season
Hawthorn injury list
Max Bailey, wrist - TBC
Chance Bateman, AC joint - 1-2 weeks
Jarrad Boumann, appendix - 1-2 weeks
Luke Hodge, knee - 2 weeks
Will Langford, shoulder - 3-4 weeks
Broc McCauley, elbow - 5-6 weeks
Michael Osborne, knee - season
Alex Woodward, knee - season
