PORT ADELAIDE will make two changes for Thursday night’s game against Melbourne but coach Ken Hinkley is expecting more opportunities for players who have not been seen yet during a congested period of games he described as potentially “season defining”.
Hinkley confirmed Jarrod Lienert and Tom Rockliff will come into the side to replace the injured Todd Marshall and Riley Bonner.
He said Rockliff had remained positive since being omitted a fortnight ago and found form in a trial game on the weekend.
“Rock was as good as anyone out there. He had a good game in a difficult situation – it was a 15-a-side game – but he played really well,” he said.
“He brings great quality to the team with the way we want to use the ball and the way he helps and instructs other people to set up around the ground.
“We all get Tom’s been a pretty high performer at the level. He was out of form and hopefully he’s had a bit of time off and he’s ready to go again.”
Ruckman Scott Lycett is expected to return from a knee injury for Monday’s game against the Western Bulldogs while defender Trent McKenzie just missed out on playing against the Demons.
“If it was Saturday he’d play,” Hinkley said.
“With Monday coming and Thursday a bit too early, we’ve just got to play our way through this a bit now.”
Hinkley is expecting the biggest challenge to come in the midfield, particularly with Demons captain Max Gawn leading the charge in the ruck.
He said young Peter Ladhams would step up to the test, and there would be some other mixing and matching to the side.
“Pete will have learnt a lot from last week too and Max is a big big challenge. If him and (Brodie) Grundy and Nic (Naitanui) are not the best three, I’m not sure who are but they’re pretty damn good,” Hinkley said.
“I’m sure it’ll be a real challenge for Pete but we’re confident he’s learning every time he plays.
“I’d rather not go through all of (the mixing and matching) because I don’t need Simon and his team knowing everything we’ll do.
“We’ll have to mix and match a little bit and every team is going to have to during this period.
“It’s quite exciting to think you’ve got to be a bit creative with what you do and how you do it so we’ll have to mix and match a little.”
With the club playing four games in 16 days, Hinkley is excited about the challenges of picking a side for each game without knowing how players will pull up.
He said the period could be season defining.
“There’s some uncertainty about this stretch. It’ll happen quick, that’s what will happen, it’ll happen quick,” he said.
“You’ll go from 19 days, there’s going to be four games played and there’s going to be some real adjustments to where teams sit in 19 days.
“It may be season defining but I think the season is going to be so close and so tight.
“Two losses, two wins can make a big difference but there’s still going to be a few more games to go after this stretch.
“I think if you can approach it with some excitement and opportunities, you’re going to get through it pretty well.”
He said the period would give a number of players opportunities to play, who otherwise might not have.
“I can just tell with our group through the week that there’s some genuine opportunity for some people who are running around at the moment and they haven’t had any of those opportunities to impress but they’re going to go, who knows – there might be some careers made in this period of time.
“There might be some people who come from nowhere and you’re going to say ‘wow, they’re an exciting young player’ where we can sit back and say, that was an exciting moment in the development of player A who has come from nowhere.”
