PORT ADELAIDE is expecting to be without midfielder Xavier Duursma for a prolonged period with the 20-year-old to undergo surgery for a knee injury.
Duursma left the field late in the club’s two-point win over Richmond on Friday night after landing awkwardly in a tackle, injuring his right knee, which will require surgical repair of the lateral ligament complex. This is expected to see him sidelined until the back end of the season.
Fellow midfielder Zak Butters will also require surgery after an ankle syndesmosis injury in the same game, which will see him miss over a month of football.
Connor Rozee is expected to be able to feature for the club in its Saturday night encounter with Carlton after sustaining a quad contusion in the first quarter of the game last Friday night.
Like Rozee, Orazio Fantasia finished the game, despite rolling his ankle, and is expected to be available to face the Blues.
Forward Todd Marshall is also in the frame to play after being a late withdrawal from the selected side on Friday night with an ankle complaint.
Midfielder Tom Rockliff has been cleared to play, after his mandatory 12-day rest period, following a concussion in the club’s Round 1 SANFL game on April 1.
Defenders Riley Bonner and Tyson Goldsack are edging closer to returning to the field with both running well, as they continue to their rehabilitation from respective hamstring and knee injuries.
And, fellow defender Jake Pasini has undergone a successful shoulder reconstruction after dislocating his shoulder in a pre-season trial game. He is expected to return to play in about 10 weeks.
Port Adelaide faces Carlton at the MCG on Saturday night from 7:25pm AEST / 6:55pm ACST.
The team will be named on Thursday evening at 5:50pm ACST.
Injury list
Riley Bonner – hamstring (3-4 weeks)
Zak Butters – ankle (TBC)
Xavier Duursma – knee (12-14 weeks)
Orazio Fantasia – ankle (assess)
Tyson Goldsack – knee (3-4 weeks)
Todd Marshall – ankle (assess)
Jake Pasini – shoulder (10-11 weeks)
Connor Rozee – corked thigh (assess)
