PORT ADELAIDE forward Connor Rozee has confirmed he won’t play against Essendon on Saturday as he gives his foot another week to recover from surgery.
Rozee had a procedure a little over a fortnight ago to remove scar tissue around a joint in his foot.
The talented 21-year-old has returned to running and was pushing to be recalled for the club’s first home game of the season.
But he told FIVEaa, the surgical wound has not quite healed and a no-risk approach has been taken.
“I got pretty close but it’s probably too much of a risk to push for this weekend so it’s looking like I’ll be back next weekend,” Rozee said.
“The one thing that’s holding me up is that (the wound) is mostly healed but there’s probably about 10 per-cent that’s not quite there so they’ll give me the extra week to make sure it’s healed and not risk anything because that might put me out for a few weeks if it opens up again.
“I’ve been running for the last few days now and feeling nice and fit.
“I did a bit of change of direction the other day as well so in terms of getting a bit of load into my legs it’s been good to get back on the track but it’ll be a couple more days before I’m ready to play.”
Rozee admitted being a poor spectator, saying he found it hard to watch from the sidelines.
He said it would be especially difficult to be missing out on playing in front of what is expected to be a boisterous home crowd at Adelaide Oval for the club’s first home game of the season, and first with a 75 per-cent attendance capacity in around 18 months.
“I think this time of the year, coming back home and playing our first game in front of our fans this year is going to be really awesome for the boys,” Rozee said.
“I would have liked to have been out there but I’m sure the atmosphere is going to be bloody awesome out there and the boys will perform for the members as well.
“I find it frustrating to be honest not being out there and not being able to have an impact.
“But it makes it easier when the boys are up and about and they had a big win on the weekend so hopefully they can again this week.”
The absence of Rozee from the forward line was somewhat offset with the four-goal performance of recruit Orazio Fantasia in last week’s win over North Melbourne.
Rozee said Fantasia and fellow recruit Aliir Aliir had settled in well and he expected the former Bomber to back up his Round 1 showing when he meets his old side this week.
“He’s a star, Orazio,” Rozee said. “He’ll be really important for us the whole of this year and Aliir as well was really solid down back.
“I think you can see their impact straight away was pretty evident.”
Port Adelaide’s Round 2 meeting with Essendon gets underway at Adelaide Oval at 4:05pm.
Supporters are encouraged to arrive at the venue early for a celebration of the careers of recently retired club greats Justin Westhoff and Brad Ebert at 3:30pm.
