AFL 2023: All the South Australian selection and teams news ahead of round 18

In search of its 14th win in a row, Port Adelaide has made seven changes for the clash with Carlton. Is there anything more to the selection surprise? Here’s what Ken Hinkley had to say.

Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley says none of the changes this week have been made with next weekend’s blockbuster top-of-the-table clash against Collingwood in mind.

While they are searching for a 14th-straight win, the Power have made seven changes for their game against Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

Already without Trent McKenzie (ankle) and Junior Rioli (personal reasons), the Power lost Charlie Dixon and Jason Horne-Francis, while Ryan Burton, Sam Hayes and Quinton Narkle have been omitted.

“Obviously with the situation we are in we have lost a few to injury, one to personal issues so there is a bit of a collection as to why the outs have happened,” Hinkley said on Friday

“But we are optimistic that we have brought in some people who have showed they can play good footy in the past and we just shuffle around a bit and we will be OK”

Hinkley said Dixon was a chance of returning from his ankle injury next week against the Pies, as was Horne-Francis – although the former No. 1 draft pick could be managed for another game as he deals with back soreness.

“Charlie is a rolled ankle from last week from the game, he is a chance to play the week after but we will wait and see,” he said.

“ (Horne-Francis’) back has been causing him a bit of grief over the last three or four weeks and it has just gotten to a point where we need to give him a rest, if it is one or two then that is what it would be.”

Ken Hinkley says Charlie Dixon could return next week. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While the Power faces a huge two weeks with Collingwood in round 19, and then the Showdown the week after, Hinkley said Dixon and Horne-Francis weren’t being managed with the Pies in mind.

“Not one decision is made with next week in mind. Because we don’t do that,” he said.

“I’m not a coach that looks to or wants to and our coaching department is not one that looks to manage we like to get people through and not change the balance of the team.

“We like to keep the balance of the team pretty stable and if you aren’t injured you play.”

Hinkley also said he disagreed with the notion there would be a good match for his side to lose ahead of the finals.

“Never prepared to lose a game, I don’t consider that to be an option in any game,” he said.

“I don’t look back and reflect and think oh we needed to lose that game, that’s never how I will look at it.

“We want to continue to win, I don’t see any rules that say you have to lose.”

For the second time this season, Burton has been omitted – a prospect few would have seen coming prior to this year.

But the Power mentor was confident the important defender would re-discover his best form.

“That is just a form issue as much as anything, Ryan knows that and he has been working really hard,” Hinkley said.

“He won’t be too far away, we are confident and comfortable that he will work his way back into the side and find his best form and that is what we need, we need his best form it makes us a better team.”

Ryan Burton has been dropped again. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

Captain Tom Jonas comes into the side for his first match at AFL level since Round 10.

Hinkley said he noticed an excitement in his skipper ahead of his return.

“It is great for Tom to be back in the team, he has had to work really hard to get back in and I have said this for a couple of weeks it is not his form that has kept him out but it was the opportunity and with Trent going down it opens the door for Tom and I’m sure he will come in and lead the boys the way he has done off the field on the field,” he said.

“Tom is incredibly excited about the opportunity to be back in the team and he is such a valuable person to our football club that he will never put himself in front of the team but in this case I can sense some excitement in Tom and he is really looking forward to playing some AFL football.”

Xavier Duursma also returns for the first time since Round 7, while Hinkley said ruckman Scott Lycett had proven his fitness at training on Thursday after missing the Power’s last two through injury.

Teams: Six changes threaten Port streak, Crows drop young gun

Port Adelaide has brought in six players for its clash against Carlton, with Jason Horne-Francis and Charlie Dixon not making the trip to Melbourne.

The Power already had to make two changes to its clash against the Blues at Marvel Stadium on Saturday with Trent McKenzie injured and Junior Rioli travelling home to Darwin for a special service to mark the anniversary of his father’s passing.

But the Power have been forced into more changes ahead of their clash with the Blues.

Former No. 1 draft pick Horne-Francis is being managed after reporting mild back soreness, while a week after playing his 200th game Dixon is out after pulling up sore.

Ryan Burton has been omitted by the Power for the second time this year, along with ruckman Sam Hayes and Quinton Narkle.

Burton and Hayes are in line to be the Power’s tactical sub.

A back issue has forced the Power to leave Jason Horne-Francis out. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Captain Tom Jonas will play his first AFL game since Round 10, while Xavier Duursma plays his first game since Round 7.

Scott Lycett comes in as the Power’s No. 1 ruck after missing the last two games with a knee injury, while Ollie Lord comes in for Dixon.

Father-sons Jackson Mead and Jase Burgoyne also come into the Power’s 22.

The Blues have brought ruckman Tom de Koning into their side to take on the Power.

Adelaide has omitted young gun Jake Soligo and former first-round draft pick Ned McHenry from the Crows’ 22 to take on GWS at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Adelaide head of footy Adam Kelly said Soligo would benefit from a “freshen up” after playing 16-straight games.

“For a second-year player to have already played 32 games, including 16 this year, is testament to Jake’s capability and ability to stand up to the rigours of AFL football,” Kelly said.

“Regardless, it should not be discounted how physically and mentally demanding AFL football is and over recent weeks Jake’s impact has fluctuated.

“That being the case, we have decided that Jake would benefit from a freshen up this week.”

The Crows have regained Jordon Butts after he missed the loss to Essendon with concussion, while Shane McAdam returns to the side for the first time since Round 1 against the Giants in Sydney, in which he was suspended for three games for a bump on Jacob Wehr.

The Crows have given Jake Soligo a week to freshen up. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Kelly said the coaching staff had been impressed with McAdam’s SANFL form and confident it was the right time for him to return.

“Shane has had a frustrating season to date,” Kelly said.

“Following a three-week suspension out of Round One, Shane has suffered a couple of injury setbacks, but we have seen him return to some of the form which has made him an important member of our forward line.

“Shane brings a unique combination of aerial and ground level pressure and speed that has been on show at SANFL level in recent weeks.”

The Crows need a win over the Giants, who have had the wood over them at Adelaide Oval in recent years, to keep their finals chances alive.

It will be Rory Sloane’s 250th game for the club.

Soligo, McHenry, Sam Berry and Elliott Himmelberg are in line to be the tactical sub for the Crows.

CARLTON v PORT ADELAIDE

Saturday July 15, 4:35pm at Marvel Stadium

BLUES

Backs: B.Kemp, J.Weitering, N.Newman

Half Backs: J.Boyd, M.McGovern, A.Saad

C: B.Acres, P.Cripps – C, S.Walsh

Half Forwards: L.Fogarty, C.Curnow, M.Owies

Forwards: D.Cuningham, H.McKay, J.Martin

Followers: T.De Koning, A.Cerra, S.Docherty

Interchange: A.Cincotta, G.Hewett, M.Cottrell, J.Silvagni

Emergencies: C.Marchbank, P.Dow, J.Motlop, O.Hollands

In: T.De Koning

Out: Le. Young (Omitted), M.Kennedy (Injured)

POWER

Backs: L.Jones, T.Jonas – C, D.Houston

Half Backs: K.Farrell, A.Aliir, D.Williams

C: M.Bergman, W.Drew, X.Duursma

Half Forwards: Z.Butters, T.Marshall, T.Boak

Forwards: D.Byrne-Jones, O.Lord, S.Powell-Pepper

Followers: S.Lycett, O.Wines, C.Rozee

Interchange: J.McEntee, J.Finlayson, J.Mead, J.Burgoyne

Emergencies: F.Evans, S.Hayes, R.Burton, J.Sinn

In: T.Jonas, X.Duursma, O.Lord, S.Lycett, J.Mead, J.Burgoyne

Out: R.Burton (Omitted), S.Hayes (Omitted), Q.Narkle (Omitted), T.McKenzie (Injured), C.Dixon (Injured), J.Horne-Francis (Injured), J.Rioli (Personal Reason)

ADELAIDE v GWS GIANTS

Saturday July 15, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

CROWS

Backs: B.Smith, N.Murray, J.Butts

Half Backs: M.Hinge, J.Worrell, W.Milera

C: L.Pedlar, J.Dawson – C, R.Sloane

Half Forwards: L.Sholl, D.Fogarty, J.Rachele

Forwards: L.Murphy, T.Walker, I.Rankine

Followers: R.O‘Brien, R.Laird, B.Keays

Interchange: R.Thilthorpe, M.Michalanney, C.Jones, S.McAdam

Emergencies: S.Berry, N.McHenry, E.Himmelberg, J.Soligo

In: J.Butts, S.McAdam

Out: J.Soligo (Omitted), N.McHenry (Omitted), H.Schoenberg (Sub)

GIANTS

Backs: J.Buckley, S.Taylor, H.Perryman

Half Backs: L.Ash, H.Himmelberg, L.Whitfield

C: J.Kelly, C.Ward, F.Callaghan

Half Forwards: D.Lloyd, J.Riccardi, T.Bedford

Forwards: B.Daniels, J.Hogan, T.Greene – C

Followers: K.Briggs, T.Green, S.Coniglio

Interchange: C.Brown, C.Idun, I.Cumming, R.Angwin

Emergencies: J.Fahey, A.Cadman, M.Flynn, J.Wehr

In: B.Daniels, R.Angwin

Out: X.O’Halloran (Injured), L.Keeffe (Injured), N.Haynes (Suspension)