FOR the second straight week, Port Adelaide will be forced into at least one change at the selection table with wingman Xavier Duursma’s hamstring injury to keep him out of the side to face West Coast on Saturday.
Duursma left the field in the third quarter of Sunday night’s 29-point win over Fremantle and is expected to miss three to four weeks of football with a hamstring strain.
Jarrod Lienert, who played in Round 1 as a late inclusion for Riley Bonner, will no doubt be discussed as a replacement given his ability to play on the wing, but others including Kane Farrell will also be in the mix.
Farrell is yet to feature in the AFL side in 2020 but he possesses a neat left foot and an ability to play both forward and in the midfield.
Midfielder Sam Mayes and the versatile Jack Watts were among the best performers in a trial game against the Crows in Adelaide nearly a fortnight ago, while ruckman Peter Ladhams was also among the best on that day and could be considered by the Port coaches.
Young forward Mitch Georgiades, who booted two goals on debut against the Gold Coast in Round 1, is itching to return to the side, having shaken off a calf complaint while young Miles Bergman would love to make his AFL debut and did his chances no harm with a strong outing in the Adelaide trail game.
Port Adelaide will on Thursday evening name its team to tackle the Eagles at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast.
