Port Adelaide big man Paddy Ryder will have an operation after being injured in a clash with teammate Robbie Gray

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is hopeful star big man Paddy Ryder will be able to recover from surgery on a fractured cheekbone in time to play in the Power’s Round 1 game.

Jared Polec of the Kangaroos with old teammates Travis Boak and Paddy Ryder of Port Adelaide after Saturday’s JLT Community Series AFL match. Picture: Getty Images

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Port Adelaide ruckman Patrick Ryder will have surgery to correct a depressed right cheekbone, a process Power coach Ken Hinkley hopes will not put his All-Australian out of the critical AFL season-opener with Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday week.

Ryder, a week after hobbling with a rolled ankle in the finish to the Summer Showdown against the Crows, sent a deeper scare in the Power camp when he clashed heads with fellow Port Adelaide gamebreaker Robbie Gray in the first minute of the last term of the pre-season closer against North Melbourne.

Port’s Paddy Ryder and Robbie Gray collide on Saturday. Picture: Sarah Reed

Ryder walked off Alberton Oval, throwing his mouthguard to ground and revealing his anger as he shouted after feeling the dent on he right side of his face.

But Hinkley is not ruling out Ryder from working a tandem with West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett against Melbourne All-Australian ruckman Max Gawn in a fortnight.

Port Adelaide @PAFC coach Ken Hinkley reports depressed cheekbone for ruckman Patrick Ryder - still in contention for #AFL Round 1 ⁦@theTiser⁩ ⁦@TheTiserSport⁩ pic.twitter.com/lVlQhomfCh

— michelangelo rucci (@michelangeloruc) March 9, 2019

“He has a high — and little — depression up on his cheekbone which is quite simple (to recover from),” Hinkley said after the 21-point win against the Kangaroos. “He has a little dent.

“That sounds a bit cold, but it is a simple (surgical procedure) where they will flick that out.

“I’d say realistically ‘Paddy’ is a more than good chance to play Round 1.

“I’ve two weeks of nightmares with ‘Paddy’ (with the rolled ankle after his Achilles issues last season — and now the cheekbone). Last week I saw him go down late — I might have to be taking him off the ground at three quarter-time from now on.

“He still has a bit to get through, so I should not be confident about Round 1 — more cautious.”

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