PORT ADELAIDE SANFL coach Matthew Lokan is excited by the opportunity of coming up against the season’s most consistent side, Glenelg, in this weekend’s SANFL Statewide Super League Semi Final.
Lokan has been pleased with his side’s form over the past three months, but knows Sunday afternoon’s clash with the Tigers will be a real test.
“Glenelg have been a fantastic team,” Lokan told reporters on Tuesday morning at Adelaide Oval.
“They’ve been really consistent all year and we know we need to be at our best to be able to compete with them this weekend.
“We are in some good form as well - we’ve won our last 10 out of 11 games, but the loss was to Glenelg, so we are excited by the opportunity we have got on Sunday.”
Lokan says the options Glenelg has in the attacking half of the ground will present a challenge for the Magpies, but he is backing his defensive group to get the job done.
“It’s pretty hard in Glenelg’s forward line,” he said.
“They’ve got Josh Scott, Luke Reynolds, Liam McBean, Cory Gregson and Marlon Motlop plays a bit through there.
“But our defence has been really solid for us - especially the back half of the year - and we just have to weigh up whether McKenzie is the right option for McBean or he goes to one of the other guys.
“Trent was outstanding for us against Adelaide, and we hope he continues that form into this weekend’s game.”
Livewire forward Aidyn Johnson missed the qualifying final win over Adelaide through suspension, and his availability against the Tigers is set to provide Port’s match committee with some headaches this weekend.
“Selection is going to be tough this week,” Lokan said.
“We have Aidyn Johnson who is available from suspension, so we will have a look at that later in the week.
“We will see how the boys pull up from the weekend’s game and choose a side accordingly. There is no real need to change a winning side, but it is something we will certainly have to look at.
“We need to make sure the balance of our team is right and we get the right balance of the contracted guys and the AFL-listed guys.”
Lokan was full of praise for emerging ruckman Peter Ladhams after his performance against the Crows, and the coach knows Ladhams must be at his best again this weekend to give the Magpies first use of the football.
“Pete is in rare form at the moment, he is almost like another midfielder for us,” he said.
“He’s still working on his ruck craft, but his work around the ground - running inside 50 and kicking a goal on the run towards the boundary for a ruckman is pretty special.
“He needs to produce again – (Glenelg ruckman) Jesse White is a quality player who has played some good AFL footy - and Pete knows he needs to be at his best to give us first look at the ball on the weekend.”
Glenelg and Port will do battle at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon from 3.15pm, with the winner advancing to this year’s grand final, while the loser will meet either Adelaide or Norwood in next weekend’s preliminary final.
