PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams is going out of his way to make sure his players are not caught off guard by a new-look Essendon side on Sunday afternoon.
The Bombers have named youngsters Darcy Daniher, David Myers and rookie Jarrod Atkinson to make their AFL debuts against the Power, but Williams said his team had done their research.
“The danger is that you underestimate their players and we certainly won’t be doing that,” he said.
“We saw their younger players play when they were recruited and we know who they are. We actually spent some time this morning making sure that every one of our players understood the new Essendon players’ strengths and weaknesses.
“When you get quite a few changes to a team at this time of year, it is a little different and Essendon didn’t play all that well last week, so I’m sure they’re ready to go.
“They’re going to have a big crowd at the Telstra Dome and we’ll have to be really prepared.”
Paul Stewart, Robbie Gray, Nick Lower and Nathan Lonie all trained with the Power on Friday, but only one is likely to be named in the final 22.
Stewart, who picked up 34 touches in the SANFL last week, is the favourite to replace injured and suspended vice-captain Chad Cornes.
Williams said some shuffling of the side would be necessary to cover the versatile Cornes’ absence.
“If we bring in a defender, someone like Peter Burgoyne can play in the midfield and if we select a forward, David Rodan could go in the midfield,” he said.
“It really doesn’t mean we have to find an exact replacement for Chad Cornes and there certainly aren’t any of those on our list anyway.”
The Power have won nine of their past 10 clashes with Essendon and despite being just one spot above the Bombers on the ladder will start heavy favourites this week.
Williams said Port Adelaide would prepared for a “tough battle” on Sunday, regardless of whether the Bombers employed an all-out attack or a contrasting shutdown style of play.
“They played really well in the pre-season when they were up and running and they’ve obviously been hit with injuries,” he said.
“Scott Lucas has been really important to them and he’s out of the side. There are quite a few others out too, so it makes it difficult for them, but I’m sure Matthew Knights is still drilling into them their pattern of play and like all sides that bring young players in, they’re going to be so enthusiastic.
“They’ll want to prove themselves and stay in the side for the whole year, so it’s going to be a difficult battle for us and on we really have to hit head on.”
