Paddy Ryder set to miss ‘some time’ after injuring his Achilles in Port Adelaide’s Round 1 win

PORT Adelaide will have to devise an alternative ruck strategy with Paddy Ryder expected to be sidelined for “some time” because of an achilles injury.

Paddy Ryder on the bench. Picture: Sarah Reed

PORT Adelaide will have to devise an alternative ruck strategy with Paddy Ryder expected to be sidelined because of an achilles injury.

Ryder went to the bench in the third quarter in the Power’s 50-point win against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night and did not return, leaving Justin Westhoff to take over the ruck duties.

Coach Ken Hinkley expected Ryder to miss matches because of his injury, which had been and ongoing concern and needed close management.

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Hinkley said the club would take a no-risk approach with the All-Australian.

“His achilles is sore, clearly he couldn’t go on in the second half,” Hinkley said.

“So I’d say he’ll miss some time, there’s no doubt.

“It’s just a matter of managing it now.

Ken Hinkley walks off Adelaide Oval with Paddy Ryder. Picture: Sarah Reed

“Paddy’s got a history with achilles (injury), he has done for probably four or five years.

“It is what it is. We move on and recover and rehab Paddy’s as best as we possibly can.

“But not with a rush. We’ll look after him; he’s too valuable.

“He didn’t play out the game so I think he’s going to miss some time, but I don’t know.”

If Ryder does, as expected, miss next Sunday’s match against Sydney the Power have several back-up plans to consider.

Among them are having Westhoff do the bulk of the job or bringing in somebody from the fringe.

“We’ll look at that,” Hinkley said.

“We had Pete Ladhams who played in JLT one and we’ve got Billy (Frampton) and we’ve got young Sam Hayes as well.

“We basically played with ‘Westy’ in the second half so that’s an option too.

Patrick Ryder on the bench with ice on his Achilles.

“We won’t rush people who aren’t ready; we’ll make decisions based on what’s right for us.”

In Port Adelaide’s favour is Westhoff’s form.

He played a peach of a game against the Dockers in a man-of-the-match contribution and again underlined how versatile he is.

“That’s what you expect; that’s just what he does,” Hinkley said.

“He turns up, he runs for kilometres and kilometres and just keeps turning up.

“He’s the most team-care player that we probably have; he just does whatever we ask him.

“And then he ends up in the right spot more often that not.

“He’s a terrific person and that comes out on the footy field as well.”

Ryder’s injury was the only blight on what was otherwise a comfortable and confidence-boosting win for the Power.

Hinkley said it was proof the club had made the right recruiting and trading decisions in the off-season and that the players had jelled over summer.

“It was a good, strong start to the season,” Hinkley said.

“They (the new players) added to us, didn’t they?

“Jack (Watts), Steven (Motlop), Tom (Rockliff) and Dom (Barry) all added something to us.”