PORT Adelaide’s first competitive match for 2016 in Blacktown will see a number of young and untried Power players attempt to make a claim for a spot in the Round 1 team that hosts St Kilda on Easter Sunday.
Here are five things to watch for in Saturday’s game…
1. Dougal Howard in the ruck
The untried 19-year-old impressed in the ruck last week and will have another big opportunity against the likes of Kurt Tippett, Callum Sinclair and Toby Nankervis.
With the suspension of Paddy Ryder and an injury to Billy Frampton, Howard looms as a possible back-up to lead ruck Matt Lobbe. It’ll be a steep learning curve against the experienced Sydney rucks and midfield, but it’s these sort of chances that young players need to take with both hands.
He’s aggressive, athletic and to use the oldest football cliché in the world, he’ll have a ‘red hot go,’ something that will no doubt please the Port Adelaide faithful.
2. How rotations are handled
The new rotation cap of 90 and scrapping of the sub were hot topics over the off-season and it’ll be interesting to see how teams approach pre-season games.
While there is an extended bench of eight and no rotation caps in the NAB Challenge, already we’ve seen teams practicing playing within the new rules.
In Thursday night’s clash between the Blues and Hawks, Carlton had just 78 rotations while the Hawks had more than 130 – something Blues coach Brendan Bolton says was a deliberate tactic to prepare his side for Round 1.
With warm, humid conditions expected in Blacktown, if either team does simulate premiership season rotation limits, it’ll certainly stretch players and give a good, early test of their fitness.
3. The run of Jimmy Toumpas
In his first outing in black, white and teal, Jimmy Toumpas will be looking to make an immediate impact with his workrate and running capacity, something Ken Hinkley praised in Friday’s press conference.
Expect Toumpas and Jared Polec to work in tandem on the wings covering plenty of ground with their run and carry.
4. Our young mids
With no Boak, Gray, Ebert or Hartlett in the squad, the midfield grunt work will be left to our young midfielders.
Brendon Ah Chee, Sam Gray, Aaron Young and Sam Colquhoun will be some of the faces rotating through midfield where they’ll get a chance to match it with experienced Sydney midfielders Dan Hanneberty, Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker.
Ah Chee and Gray will particularly look to carry their brilliant late-season form from 2015 into the start of the 2016 season.
Hinkley has stated Gray, who initially started his AFL career as a small forward, will play almost exclusively in the midfield this year.
Sam Gray's progress will be keenly watched again in 2016 as a bonafide midfielder [pic: AFL Media]
5. Bobby v Buddy
It may only be the first week of the NAB Challenge, but the prospect of a showdown between Alipate Carlile and the returning Lance Franklin is exciting.
The pair have had some brilliant battles over the past few years, and make returns after difficult ends to their 2015 seasons. For Power fans, the chance to see Carlile - who was very impressive early last year - will be welcome after he missed the end of the year with a hip injury.
Port Adelaide plays Sydney at 4:40pm AEST in Blacktown on Saturday 20 February.
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