AFL 2021: Follow the latest Port Adelaide news
Port Adelaide is up against it to finish inside the top four with its draw and injury toll. Find out what the Power needs to secure the double chance.
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Port Adelaide probably needs to win at least five of its remaining six games to secure a double chance after its home loss to Melbourne on Thursday night.
The 31-point defeat hurts the Power’s prospects of finishing in the top four and things will likely become even harder by Sunday.
If Brisbane, which plays St Kilda at Metricon Stadium, and Geelong (Carlton at the MCG) both triumph as expected on Saturday, Ken Hinkley’s side will be a victory off the pace.
Thursday night’s setback means the Power now needs to rely on other results to make the top four.
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Champion Data rated Port Adelaide’s draw as the ninth-easiest in the league before Round 16, while it ranked the Lions’ schedule the best and Cats as the third-easiest.
The Power, which has a 1-5 record against top-eight teams this year, faces two on the run home: GWS in Canberra in Round 20 and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in its last match before finals.
By contrast, the Lions will battle just one side in the eight – West Coast at the Gabba in Round 23 – as well as reigning premier Richmond at the MCG.
Geelong faces two top-eight clubs, both at home at GMHBA Stadium – GWS in Round 21 and Melbourne to close the campaign – along with taking on the Tigers at the MCG.
Port Adelaide would be expected to beat Collingwood, Adelaide and Carlton at home, but next week’s game against the Saints could be tricky.
The Power will struggle to topple the Bulldogs on form and the Giants clash will be a battle, particularly at Manuka Oval.
Sixth-placed Sydney (10-4) will also come into calculations if it beats the Bulldogs this weekend.
The return of key players from injury will also have a bearing on where the Power finishes.
Wingman Xavier Duursma will push his case for an AFL call-up when he makes his comeback in the SANFL on Saturday – his first game since hyperextending his right knee in Round 4.
Young gun Zak Butters might not be available until the last two minor rounds after injuring his right knee in his return match against the Demons and being ruled out for a month.
Goalsneak Orazio Fantasia was listed as three to four games away, but was a week-to-week proposition, according to Hinkley on Wednesday.
Star veteran Robbie Gray is expected to be back in five to six weeks, putting him on track for Round 23, while there is no timeline for midfielder Tom Rockliff’s return from deep-vein thrombosis.
Luckless Port gun’s latest cruel stint on sidelines revealed
Port Adelaide young gun Zak Butters is expected to miss about a month of football after injuring his knee in Thursday night’s 31-point home loss to Melbourne.
Scans on Friday confirmed the 20-year-old, who was playing his first AFL game since Round 4, had sprained his right medial ligament.
Butters landed awkwardly after taking an intercept mark at half-forward 15 minutes into the third term and was subbed out of the game at three-quarter time.
The midfielder/forward had been sidelined for three months — first with an ankle syndesmosis injury sustained against Richmond on April 9, then due to surgery for a nerve issue around his left knee — before returning to face the Demons.
He made his comeback via the SANFL last weekend, kicking two goals and gathering 21 disposals in the Magpies’ win over Central District.
Butters registered 10 possessions, three tackles and two clearances against Melbourne.
Defender Ryan Burton was expected to be available to face St Kilda next weekend despite coming off in the last quarter on Thursday night with a groin problem.
He had precautionary scans on Friday.
The impact of Butters injury on Power
Port Adelaide is again sweating on scans to young gun Zak Butters after a knee injury in his comeback game on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old, who was sidelined for three months with an ankle syndesmosis injury then had surgery in May for a nerve issue around his left knee, was substituted from Thursday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne at three-quarter time with what the club suspected was a sprain of his right medial collateral ligament.
Butters landed awkwardly at half-forward after taking an intercept mark midway through the third quarter and soon hobbled to the bench for treatment.
As Power doctor Mark Fisher assessed his right knee, medical substitute Marty Frederick began warming up.
Butters then jogged with his knee taped and tried changing direction several times along the boundary, but he did not look right.
At three-quarter time, Butters did not go to the huddle, instead sitting on the bench wearing a jacket while injured Power veteran Tom Rockliff put his arm around him.
Port Adelaide confirmed his substitution from play – and Frederick’s introduction – during that break.
Power coach Ken Hinkley said the club would not make any decision on Butters until it learnt more about his injury.
Hinkley said Butters was unlucky to get hurt in his first AFL game back.
“Sometimes when you have a bad run ... it goes against you,” he said.
“You get back, you’re excited about getting back and then all of a sudden, first game back, something else happens.”
Hinkley said on Wednesday that he was surprised at how quickly Butters had returned from surgery and he was a week ahead of expectation.
The club had listed the midfielder/forward as TBC until he made his return last Saturday via the SANFL.
Butters kicked two goals and collected 21 disposals in the Magpies’ win over Central District.
Thursday night was the 12th time the Power had activated their substitute from its 16 games this season.
Butters came into the team for Kane Farrell, who ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Hawthorn last weekend.
If Butters is sidelined again, it will leave the Power low on small forwards, given Robbie Gray (knee) and Orazio Fantasia (knee) are also injured.
Port Adelaide defender Ryan Burton finished the game on the bench, coming off in the fourth term with a groin problem.
“I don’t know that it’ll be too much to worry about,” Hinkley said.
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