portadelaidefc.com.au takes a look at who’s in the mix for selection for both sides ahead of the Power’s clash with the Bombers this Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
Port Adelaide
The Power could regain the services of two key defenders this week in half-back Jasper Pittard and big-bodied Tom Jonas.
Pittard was forced out of the side in Round 17 after injuring his ankle in a training session. He’ll undergo a fitness test this week and could be a valuable inclusion for the Power as they enter this important clash.
Jonas was omitted in Round 15 and has spent two weeks on the sidelines with a strained quad. He’ll also undergo a test.
Speedy forward Matt White will also prove his fitness after spending over a month in rehab with an injured hamstring. His quick pace has been missed in the Power’s mid and forward lines and he’ll be pushing for selection in at AFL or SANFL level.
Sam Gray snagged the Peter Jackson Player of the Week in the Magpies’ impressive 41-point win over first-placed Woodville West Torrens. He collected 34 touches in his best game of the season.
With a performance like that, he may well earn an AFL recall to assist a Power midfield which battled in winning clearances at the weekend.
Billy Frampton could also make a return to the Magpies after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Port Adelaide’s most recent team
FB: Cam O'Shea, Jack Hombsch, Jarman Impey
HB: Tom Clurey, Jackson Trengove, Paul Stewart
C: Matthew Broadbent, Robbie Gray, Brad Ebert
HF: Angus Monfries, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard
FF: Hamish Hartlett, Jay Schulz, Paddy Ryder
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Oliver Wines
I/C: Jake Neade, Nathan Krakouer, Aaron Young, Brendon Ah Chee
E: Andrew Moore, Jesse Palmer, Karl Amon
Port Adelaide injury list
Billy Frampton – hamstring (assess)
Jasper Pittard – ankle (assess)
Tom Jonas – quad (assess)
Mitch Harvey – groin (assess)
Matt White – hamstring (assess)
Mason Shaw - groin (2-3 weeks)
Jared Polec – foot (indefinite)*
*denotes long-term injury list
Essendon
Veteran forward Paul Chapman, young defender Alex Browne and Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney are all eyeing a return against the Power this week.
Chapman has been sidelined for with an adductor problem, Browne a head knock and Cooney a hamstring injury – all three will face fitness tests to be available for selection.
The Bombers are also reconsidering their options in the ruck, which may see the debut of former GWS rookie Jonathon Giles.
"We just want a more competitive effort from Jonathan," Essendon senior coach James Hird said last week.
"He's starting to give us that and [it's] an expectation of the way he plays.
“…as I said, he may play next week.”
Meanwhile VFL regulars Kurt Aylett, Elliott Kavanagh and Tayte Pears have been flagged as standout performers in the state competition who are pushing for an AFL call up and may see their opportunity this week.
Essendon’s most recent team
FB: Mark Baguley, Ariel Steinberg, Michael Hurley
HB: Michael Hibberd, James Gwilt, Martin Gleeson
C: Brent Stanton, Brendon Goddard, David Zaharakis
HF: Cale Hooker, Patrick Ambrose, Jackson Merrett
F: Jayden Laverde, Joe Daniher, Dyson Heppell
Foll: Shaun McKernan, Nick O’Brien, Zach Merrett
Int: Kyle Langford, Ben Howlett, Shaun Edwards, Jason Ashby
E: Courtenay Dempsey, Jonathon Giles, Elliott Kavanagh
Essendon injury list
Tom Bellchambers – foot (8 weeks)
Travis Colyer – foot (season)
Jake Carlisle – ankle (3 weeks)
David Myers – knee (2 weeks)
Dustin Fletcher – groin (unknown)
Jobe Watson – shoulder (season)
Jason Winderlich – shin (1-2 weeks)
Jake Melksham – hamstring (1 week)
Nick Kommer – thigh (a few weeks)
Orazio Fantasia – thigh (1 week)
Heath Hocking – back (1-2 weeks)
