Selection: Four changes
Port Adelaide has made four changes – three forced and one unforced – to its side to face Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday
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PORT Adelaide has made four changes - three forced and one unforced - to its side to face Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday.
As revealed yesterday on PortAdelaideFC.com.au, Nathan Blee will make his AFL debut against the Hawks.
He’ll be joined in defence by Troy Chaplin, who returns from a knee injury to help cover the loss of the injured Alipate Carlile.
[ Related: Match preview ]
Young ruckman Jarrad Redden returns to provide support for Matthew Lobbe and David Rodan will play his first AFL game since Round 14 having returned successfully from a hamstring injury last week for Norwood.
Interim senior coach Garry Hocking said Redden’s return would provide good support to Matt Lobbe.
“We’ve had the debate on two rucks all year and at times we’ve gone with that strategy,” Hocking told PortAdelaideFC.com.au.
“With Bailey back for the Hawks and the likes of Hale and Roughead spending time in ruck, we decided it was necessary to bring in a second ruckman.
“He’s fresh after playing in a trial game last week and we’re really looking for a big contest at the stoppages this week and we think Reddo will help with that.
“It also allows us to keep Daniel Stewart, Westhoff and Schulz up forward as marking options.”
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Hocking said Rodan could be one of the positional changes he’s hinted at earlier in the week.
“He’ll add a bit dash to the midfield and we’ll assess how we use that.
“He’s only been out of the side because of injury. It was an extended period out with that hamstring injury so we wanted him to get through an SANFL game first before he came back into the side.”
Debutant Blee has forced his way into the side with good form at SANFL side North Adelaide. The 21-year-old has spent a majority of his time down back, but has moved onto the wing and up forward in the past couple of weeks.
“Blee deservers his shot and he provides us with a bit of flexibility.
“With Hawthorn’s potential to stretch us with height (with the likes of Gunston, Roughead and Hale), it was necessary to bring Blee and Chaplin into the side, especially with Bobby out.”
Carlile (back), Tom Jonas (calf), Chad Wingard (glute) and Aaron Young (omitted) are the four players to go out of the side.
[ Related: Wingard ruled out ]
Hocking said while Young’s form hadn’t been bad, he needed to get a full game under his belt at SANFL level.
“Youngy has started as the sub the past three weeks and that can affect your conditioning,” Hocking said.
“It hasn’t been a form thing, we just want him to go back and get a good run for North Adelaide in the local league.”
The club expects Carlile, Jonas and Wingard to be ruled out for just one week with their respective injuries.
Darren Pfeiffer will be the travelling emergency. The team will fly to Launceston on Saturday.
Final 22 v Hawthorn
Sunday 12 August, 12.40pm (SA time)
Aurora Stadium, Launceston
Full back: Paul Stewart, Jackson Trengove, Tom Logan
Half back: Dom Cassisi, Troy Chaplin, Nathan Blee
Centre: Brad Ebert, Hamish Hartlett, Kane Cornes
Half forward: David Rodan, Justin Westhoff, Danyle Pearce
Full forward: Brett Ebert, Jay Schulz, Daniel Stewart
Followers: Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Matthew Broadbent
Interchange: Andrew Moore, John McCarthy, Jarrad Redden, Matt Thomas
Emergencies: Aaron Young, Darren Pfeiffer, Steven Salopek
In: Blee, Chaplin, Redden, Rodan
Out: Carlile (back), Jonas (calf), Wingard (glute), Young (omitted)
Debut: Nathan Blee - 2011 NAB National Draft Pick 51 (East Perth)
Milestone: Dom Cassisi - 200 AFL games
