PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Ken Hinkley has revealed last year’s no.18 selection in the national draft Mitch Georgiades will make his debut against Gold Coast on Saturday evening.

Hinkley said it was an exciting time for both Georgiades and the club, and he is looking forward to seeing the Western Australian attack the contest with vigour.

“Mitch Georgiades is playing. Mitch is playing his first game,” Hinkley said during a Zoom media conference on Thursday afternoon.

“It’s exciting news for us as a footy club to have another first-round player come in and play his first game in round 1.

“We look forward to seeing what Mitch brings.”

The senior coach also revealed key forward Charlie Dixon would miss the clash with the Suns with an adductor injury, and said the forward line would have to gel as a group in his absence - with Georgiades playing a key role in that.

“The focal point will be a mixture of the group,” Hinkley said.

“That’s what it has to be, and that’s what we did last year. We dealt without Charlie (Dixon) for basically most of last season.

“For Mitch (Georgiades), all we expect from any first-time player is to go out there and enjoy himself. Jump at the ball and see what he can create.

“He’s got some structure stuff that every player plays under, but Mitch is in that lucky position as a first-year player where he gets a bit of freedom to just play.”

Brad Ebert will also be named in the side according to Hinkley, with the senior coach saying the hard-running forward/midfielder had impressed throughout pre-season.

“Brad (Ebert) is in the side and he will play,” he said.

“He’s been building his pre-season. He’s started to show some really positive signs.

“We appreciate that Brad has missed a lot of football in the last 12 months, and we are helping him build back into the really consistent form that Brad Ebert’s known for.”

Port Adelaide’s final team for its round 1 clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening will be announced at 5.50pm ACDT tonight.