Reinforcements are on the way ... Tom Clurey, Xavier Duursma, Jackson Mead, Hamish Hartlett, maybe Orazio Fantasia. But it can seem one step forward and one back at Alberton while the injury list keeps testing the depth at Port Adelaide.
Key defender Trent McKenzie is spared with no nasty break of his collarbone after the crunching collision with Sydney pressure forward Will Hayward in the last quarter of the dramatic Saturday evening 10-point win at Adelaide Oval. The injury notes now reference a sprained SC joint - and optimism of staying in the 22 for the away encounter with Hawthorn at the Melbourne Docklands.
Midfielder-forward Connor Rozee is checking a knock to an upper leg with scans but the club is hopeful he will be able to face the Hawks.
The reassuring note at Alberton - while Port Adelaide again sits in the top four with a 10-4 win-loss record - is the "squad mentality" has kept a premiership campaign from tilting while depth has been tested by a heavy injury toll.
Midfield coach Jarrad Schofield is seeing long-term gains to come from overcoming short-term pain.
"We understand we are missing some parts to our game in terms of personnel - and I know (senior coach) Ken (Hinkley) has said it and I will reiterate, it is a squad mentality for us at the moment," Schofield said.
"We are playing some young guys and had another debutant (the fourth) with Dylan Williams at the weekend.
"We are missing some key parts in terms of players to our side.
"We are definitely looking at things in our game to keep growing and improving - but we cannot underestimate Sydney," added Schofield. "They tested us. We showed great resilience in the later part of the game and we came away with a good, gritty win which is only going to be a positive for us moving forward.
"We have always had that belief. When you put it into practice as we had to against Sydney, who are playing some really good football and are in the top eight for a reason. We showed great resilience and resolve to get momentum back and win as we did."
The injury list will be read again and again before selection for the round 16 clash with 17th-placed Hawthorn.
McKenzie was subbed out of the game on Saturday, ushering the entry of goal kicking hero Sam Mayes from the substitute bench. His presence against Hawthorn - after being locked in a duel with Sydney power forward Lance Franklin - remains likely.
"There is no severe break just a sprain, so there is some positive news on that front," Schofield said. "It is early days, but he would be in a good space to take his spot in the side."
Clurey has not played since round 9 - the Thursday Night Football clash with the Western Bulldogs on May 15 - when his jaw was broken in a collision with Mitch Hannan on the eastern side of Adelaide Oval.
"He will have a full week on the track looking to play this week (most likely in the SANFL)," Schofield said.
Hartlett was replaced in the 22 on Saturday afternoon by young defender Martin Frederick after feeling uncertain with a hip flexor during the warm-up.
"Hamish has to present that he is fully fit; we took a cautious approach at the weekend," Schofield said.
"If he puts a full week on the track he definitely will be in line for selection."
Fantasia stepped out of action during the mid-season break two weeks ago for corrective knee surgery. His return might be still a week away.
"Fantasia is still an unknown," Schofield said.
Duursma - along with fellow midfielder Zak Butters - has been on the injury list since the preliminary final rematch with Richmond at Adelaide Oval on April 9 when he suffered a knee injury. He now appears ready for competitive football.
Mead was lost with a lacerated spleen in an early season SANFL clash with South Adelaide, robbing the father-son pick of a follow-up game after his pre-season debut in the summer Showdown.
McKenzie's injury created concern at the weekend while the heavy injury count against Port Adelaide's defence stocks that have recently lost first-year half-back Lachie Jones (hamstring) and the experienced Hartlett (hip).
The injury list will not claim key forward Charlie Dixon, who hobbled through the last term of the win against Sydney on Saturday when senior coach Ken Hinkley described the All-Australian as "bashed up".
"Charlie, being Charlie with combative injuries, was hobbling around with a bit of an ankle, but he has battled that for a number of years," Schofield said. "He presented to the medical staff fine on Sunday morning."
Port Adelaide's second win in five outings against top-eight rivals this season marked 2019 draftee (No.23) Dylan Williams' introduction to AFL action with a match-up against Sydney co-captain and experienced All-Australian defender Dane Rampe.
Williams played a critical part in the chain of play that ended in Mayes' kicking the goal that reclaimed the lead for Port Adelaide with four minutes to play.
"Dylan handled himself well," Schofield said. "It was challenging coming up against a great defensive outfit and being stood side-by-side with Dane Rampe. You know you are up for a challenge and Dylan understood what AFL footy was all about with the speed of the game, the work rate required.
"He might not have got a lot of the ball but he had impact where he had to defend or tackle or just halve a contest as evident with that Mayes' goal. He stood up when he needed to. He will be better for the run. He cramped after the game. He is a young fella still learning."
Port Adelaide will face 17th-ranked Hawthorn buoyed by the confidence gained in the 18-point win against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday - and the need to honour Shaun Burgoyne in his 400th AFL game (157 of which were with Port Adelaide where he became part of the 2004 premiership line-up).
"It is a unique situation," Schofield said of the milestone moment that makes Burgoyne a rival with admiration this weekend. "I played in a premiership with him and spent a lot of time with him at Port Adelaide as a player - and he is an icon of the game by his status in the game.
"I am coaching; he is still playing. It is a wonderful effort by Shaun to reach 400 games - and I would have never envisioned that at all.
"It is his 400th, a big occasion for him and the Hawthorn Football Club. He is a Port Adelaide premiership player; we acknowledge his efforts and the service he has given to the AFL. But we have to get the win - and we have to put that (milestone) aside and get the win we are looking for on a big day for Shaun."
