Port Adelaide decimated by injury with Jonas, Wines and Ebert ruled out of Showdown 46

Port Adelaide is on the ropes four days out from Showdown 46 after being decimated by injury and may turn to former skipper Travis Boak to captain the side against the Crows on Saturday.

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PORT Adelaide is on the ropes four days out from Showdown 46 after being decimated by injury and may turn to former skipper Travis Boak to captain the side against the Crows on Saturday night.

Co-captains Tom Jonas (calf) and Ollie Wines (broken ankle) have both been ruled out of the game with injury while its equal-leading goal-kicker this season Brad Ebert will also miss due to concussion he suffered in Friday’s loss to Collingwood.

With vice captain Hamish Hartlett also sidelined with a hamstring injury, and four-time Showdown Medallist Robbie Gray out with a broken hand, Port has no official leader for the blockbuster 6th v 7th clash.

Port Adelaide will be without co-captains Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas, as well as Brad Ebert, Robbie Gray, Charlie Dixon and Hamish Hartlett for Showdown 46. Picture SARAH REED

Scans this week have revealed that Wines played out the game against Collingwood last week with a broken ankle and he would miss about a month of footy.

Jonas last night told The Advertiser’s podcast The Lowdown that experienced defender Matthew Broadbent would play his first game since Round 19, 2017, while speedy youngsters Kane Farrell and Aidyn Johnson were also in the mix.

“That sneaky calf, it’s really got me,” Jonas said.

“I sort of thought if I miss the North game (a fortnight ago) I’d be right for Collingwood, then I had a bit of a trot around last Thursday and pulled up sore from that straight away.

“Then I haven’t really progressed over the weekend. I was going to run today but thought we’d hold it till Thursday or next week and see where it’s at.

“It’s one of those things, we might as well get it right and make sure we don’t do any further damage.

“And it turns out Ollie has been running around with a broken ankle on the weekend, he’s got a little fracture in his ankle, so he’s going to miss a bit of footy.

“Ebo (Ebert) will also miss, concussion is a big deal these days and it should be, we’ve seen a couple of things over in the States and closer to him about the lasting impacts.

“He’s got a couple of kids now to think about so he’d like to back in the docs and err on the side of caution if there is any risk.”

ALSO IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF THE LOWDOWN:

AFL - ADVERTISER PODCAST - Showdown week - Port Adelaide Co-Captain Tom Jonas and Crows Hugh Greenwood. Picture SARAH REED

- Inside Ken Hinkley’s coaches’ box on Friday night.

- Hugh calls out Tom’s radio snub.

- Can Jenkins and Himmelberg play in the same team?

- Is it OK to have a beer if you’re in the rehab group?

- The Phantom’s pic of the week

- And The Lowdown is hitting the road next week. If the Crows win we’re off to The Alma, if Port wins we’re heading to Pirate Life.

And loads more. Listen here and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

It has opened the door for Broadbent to play his first game in nearly two years and Jonas said it would be huge to see him back.

“Matt Broadbent after two years out, fair stint, he got knocked out at training, twisted his ankle, ended up missing a year of footy then a few complications,” Jonas said.

“He’s going to make his return and he’s almost the forgotten man but he’s a bloody good footballer so it’s going to be unreal to see Brogsy out there on Saturday.

“And we’ve got plenty of Port boys running around in the Maggies so it will give them an opportunity.”

As for the captain, that will most likely land back with Boak who relinquished the role at the end of last season.

“The sort of nick he’s in it would only be natural for him to step up,” Jonas said.

“It’s really only a (coin) toss and a couple of pre-game rev ups, so [if he does] the coin and they might even throw the rev ups to someone else and give them an opportunity.”

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