AFL 2024: All the news and standouts from Port Adelaide’s internal trial

Mitch Georgiades’ has ramped up his comeback bid with an impressive showing in Port Adelaide’s latest trial game — but, he still has one major area where he must convince the Power coaches.

Young forward Mitch Georgiades is all but certain to be available for Round 1, with Port Adelaide assistant coach Tyson Goldsack saying it is now about getting his appetite for big contests back.

Georgiades tore his ACL in April last year and after signing a new contract to stay at Alberton he has been targeting a Round 1 return.

He took a major step towards this by running out the Power’s internal trial at Alberton on Friday.

Goldsack said it was now about Georgiades getting his confidence back around contests.

“From a workload perspective he has done a lot of work,” he said.

“Competing among numbers is the next phase for him.

“There were some times where he, I wouldn’t say pulled out of it, but chose not to go into those condensed numbers - which is more than acceptable and you can understand that.

Mitch Georgiades is set to line up in Round 1 after recovering from an ACL injury in 2023. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

“From a match-play point of view I thought he was running really good patterns... he looked good for a first one back for him.

“He looks free doesn’t he? Often you will see guys who are a bit timid to change direction or to run and move but he has shown he can do that really well.

“We will just keep stepping up how many times he can get into big contests and how he feels

it will all go off how he is feeling and how confident he is.”

The 22-year-old, who stands at 192cm, played quite high and wide in his forward role against Ryan Burton as the Power rolled out a probables forward line against a likely defence.

Goldsack said while Georgiades — who was on a wing in recent match simulation - had a “really good tank” this was more about his return from injury.

“I think naturally instead of trying to get more on the outside of stoppages he will find himself wherever he is and play his game in a normal fashion,” he said.

Goldsack said the Power was yet to lock in its wing spots, as son of a gun Jase Burgoyne pushed his selection claims with a solid second half.

New recruit Esava Ratugolea didn’t finish the internal trial after limping off midway through the second quarter with a sore knee.

Goldsack said the key defender had “just a pinch in his knee” and he was expected to be OK for next week against Adelaide but he could be managed after a big pre-season.

Goldsack is the backline coach for the Power this season and said third-year player Josh Sinn had an impressive game.

“More so the second half which becomes a bit of concern when you haven’t done a lot of work,” he said.

“But to run the game out the way he did, he would be as happy with that than us.”

SINN, SOLDO STAR AS PORT GEARS UP FOR ROUND 1

Josh Sinn has staked a claim for a round 1 berth, Ivan Soldo is winning the ruck battle and Mitch Georgiades looks more than capable of featuring in the season-opener.

They were among the key takeaways from Port Adelaide’s intra-club match at Alberton Oval on Friday evening.

Third-year speedster Sinn and Richmond recruit Soldo were among the standouts during a game that featured balanced teams, rather than a probables versus the rest.

Georgiades took a major step in his comeback from an anterior cruciate ligament injury, playing and moving well in first competitive hitout since April.

The high-flying forward ran out the match.

Restricted to four AFL games in his first two injury-plagued seasons, Sinn was lively from the outset.

The left-footer played at half-back, broke lines and was one of the most prolific ball-winners on the day.

Port Adelaide has plenty of running defender options, but the 21-year-old Victorian will be difficult to ignore for selection in the season-opener against West Coast next month if his form continues in the club’s upcoming trials.

Sinn, whom the Power traded up to draft, battled groin issues in 2022 and had hamstring surgery late last year.

Soldo appears all but certain to start in ruck versus the Eagles.

The 2019 premiership player outshone fellow recruit Jordon Sweet (Western Bulldogs) and third-year big man Dante Visentini.

Josh Sinn staked his claim in Port Adelaide’s internal trial. Picture: Russell Millard Photography

Soldo showed his ruck craft with deft taps to teammate Zak Butters and Quinton Narkle, strong tackling when he caught Ollie Wines holding the ball and physicality by bowling over opposition defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher in a marking contest that prompted a 50m penalty.

Other players to impress included new skipper Connor Rozee, vice-captain Zak Butters, fellow new leader Sam Powell-Pepper (three goals) and young gun Jason Horne-Francis.

Rozee’s class and poise were obvious, while reigning best-and-fairest Butters’ ball carrying and decision-making were outstanding.

They featured almost permanently on-ball, on opposite sides during the first half and fourth quarter, and teammates in the third term.

Todd Marshall in action at Alberton Oval on Friday. Picture: Matt Loxton

As Power coaches signalled in the lead-up, Brownlow Medallist Wines was in the engine room full-time.

Ex-Geelong defender Esava Ratugolea limped off midway through the second quarter with a sore knee.

The recruit stayed off as a precaution but was expected to line up in the trial against Adelaide at Alberton Oval next week.

Defenders Aliir Aliir (back) and Trent McKenzie (hamstring), as well as key forward Jeremy Finlayson (shin) were rested.

The trio could all play against the Crows, though McKenzie might return the week after.

Soldo running straight through BZT 😅 pic.twitter.com/AqH2OD1CI6

— Jasper Chellappah (@Jasperc53) February 16, 2024

Willie Rioli and Will Lorenz go head-to-head. Picture: Matt Loxton

PORT INTERNAL TRIAL

Mixed teams to start

Middle: Soldo, Rozee, Wines, JHF (black team)
Sweet, Butters, Mead (white)

Wings: Burgoyne, Boak & Lorenz, Drew

Forwards (opponent): Dixon (Esava) deepest, Marshall (BZT), Georgiades (Burton), DBJ (Farrell), Rioli (Bergman)

1/2

— Matt Turner (@mattturner1986) February 16, 2024

Other match notes:

■ While the teams were quite even to ensure a tighter contest, it was essentially a probables forward line versus a likely defence, according to assistant coach Tyson Goldsack. That meant Charlie Dixon on Ratugolea, Todd Marshall on Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Mitch Georgiades on Ryan Burton, Darcy Byrne-Jones on Kane Farrell and Willie Rioli on Miles Bergman or Lachie Jones. Dylan Williams, who played 21 games for the Power last season, was in the other backline, a sign he might be in the chasing pack for a round 1 berth. Qualifying final standout Ollie Lord was in the younger forward line to start the match.

■ Horne-Francis spent plenty of the time in the midfield, but also looked dangerous when stationed deepest in attack, starting in the goal square.

■ Dixon was on managed minutes in his return from an adductor issue. The spearhead played the first half then was rested for the second.

■ Son of a gun Jase Burgoyne pushed his selection claims for a wing spot with a solid second half. Wearing a pink hat to ensure no contact due to a shoulder problem, Willem Drew played almost entirely on a wing. Veteran Travis Boak looks to have one wing spot locked up. The

Tom Clurey wing experiment did not happen in the first half but he shifted there from defence in the third quarter.

■ Port Adelaide’s draftees all had their moments. Smooth-moving wingman/half-back Will Lorenz displayed nice vision when he kicked neatly inside 50 to Preston Cockatoo-Collins and Goalsneak Tom Anastasopoulos slotted a major from a terrific crumb.