Portadelaidefc.com.au takes a look at who’s in the mix for selection for both sides as Port Adelaide face Fremantle in the Power’s final game for 2015.
Teams will be announced on portadelaidefc.com.au at 5.55pm on Thursday night.
Port Adelaide
The Power could see a couple of changes to its forward six, with two first-pick goal kickers in the mix to return this week.
Key forward Jay Schulz is recovering from a niggling back issue and pending fitness testing, is a chance to face Fremantle. The forward target spent last week on the sidelines while the same back complaint kept him off the field in Round 21.
Speedster Jake Neade is also in the mix to return against the Dockers after missing the Gold Coast clash due to personal reasons. He’ll be available for selection this weekend, and could step back in to bolster the Power’s forward line alongside Schulz.
Kane Mitchell, Andrew Moore and Sam Colquhoun were all named in the SANFL’s best last week, but it’ll be tough to break into the top side which has taken home the win three weeks in a row.
Port Adelaide’s most recent team
FB: Cam O’Shea, Jack Hombsch, Jasper Pittard
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Tom Jonas, Matthew Broadbent
C: Hamish Hartlett, Robbie Gray, Brad Ebert
HF: Karl Amon, Justin Westhoff, Chad WIngard
FF: Matt White, Paddy Ryder, Angus Monfries
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Sam Gray
Interchange: John Butcher, Jarman Impey, Brendon Ah Chee, Aaron Young
Port Adelaide injury list
Jay Schulz (back) - assess
Billy Frampton (knee) - 1 week
Alipate Carlile (hip) – season
Logan Austin (shoulders) – season
Ollie Wines (shoulder) – season
Jackson Trengove (shoulder) - season
Jared Polec – (foot) - season*
*denotes long-term injury list
Fremantle
With the Dockers confirming they’ll be resting up to 11 senior players ahead of their finals campaign (in addition to existing injured players), expect to see an overhaul of the side to which overcame the Dees on Sunday.
So far nine first-choice players have been confirmed outs, leaving opportunity wide open for others to step up.
Defenders Lee Spurr and Luke McPharlin, midfielders Stephen Hill and David Munday, ruckman Aaron Sandilands and forward Matthew Pavlich will be rested. Meanwhile Brownlow favourite Nat Fyfe, Hayden Ballantyne and Michael Walters are all sidelined this week with injuries.
Connor Blakely is recovering well from an ankle complaint and coach Ross Lyon confirmed he’ll play on Saturday, while last week’s debut, Ed Langdon, will almost certainly keep his place.
According to fremantlefc.com.au, WAFL midfielders Brady Grey and Jacob Ballard could get a call up to replace David Mundy and Stephen Hill, while Jack Hannath is a favourite to fill in for big ruckman Aaron Sandilands.
Matt Taberner and Alex Pearce were named emergencies last week, and have been flagged as replacements for skipper Matthew Pavlich and key back Luke McPharlin.
Fremantle’s most recent team
FB: Lee Spurr, Luke McPharlin, Tendai Mzungu
HB: Cameron Sutcliffe, Michael Johnson, Garrick Ibbotson
C: Michael Barlow, Stephen Hill, Nick Suban
HF: Danyle Pearce, Matthew Pavlich, Matt de Boer
F: Jonathon Griffin, Chris Mayne, Michael Walters
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Lachie Neale
Int: Tommy Sheridan, Zac Dawson, Ed Langdon, Clarence Pearce
Fremantle injury list
Connor Blakely (ankle) – test
Nat Fyfe (leg soreness) – 1 week
Michael Walters (calf soreness) – 1 week
Hayden Ballantyne (pectoral tendon) – 1-2 weeks
Josh Deluca (leg stress reaction) – 2-4 weeks
Michael Apeness (knee) – season
Anthony Morabito (knee) - TBC
