Port Adelaide drops club champions Patrick Ryder and Justin Westhoff as coach Ken Hinkley deals with inconsistent Power

Port Adelaide club champions Patrick Ryder and Justin Westhoff are on the outer as Power coach Ken Hinkley deals with need to find consistency for 6-6 team.

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Port Adelaide is binning its two-ruck policy — and dumping 2017 club champion and All-Australian Patrick Ryder to favour West Coast premiership ruckman Scott Lycett.

And last year’s club champion Justin Westhoff has his run of 135 consecutive AFL games end with his axing from the line-up to face league leader Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Ryder, Westhoff, young gun midfielder-forward Sam Powell-Pepper and novice defender Jarrard Lienert are the losers in Port Adelaide’s major shake-up at selection as coach Ken Hinkley deals with his team’s inconsistent form — and the scoreless last quarter in the 21-point loss to Fremantle at Perth Stadium on Saturday.

Hinkley’s 22-man line-up is recast with significant gains — key forward Charlie Dixon for his first game since August last year; co-captain Ollie Wines and former vice-captain Brad Ebert, who will wear a helmet to guard against another hit of concussion.

The Power’s defence also will be recast with the attentive and tough Joel Garner earning his second AFL game as Geelong presents a significant challenge with its arsenal of small forwards.

The fall of Ryder and Westhoff is seen to leave questions on their futures at Alberton, in particular Ryder who is at an impasse with Port Adelaide’s list management team as the 31-year-old ruckman seeks a two-year contract extension at Alberton.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas dismissed all speculation on Ryder and Westhoff’s relevance to the Power in 2020 as “hypothetical”.

“I know there is a lot of discussion around those two guys,” Thomas said. “In my mind, not at all … we are in a situation where we are going week by week; we are trying to construct the best possible team to take on our opponent each week.

“And I expect every player in our squad to be able to react to disappointment — and bounce back. That has always been part of the deal as an elite athlete — and part of the character building in a performance-based game.”

Ryder’s fall to leave Lycett in the No. 1 ruck role is purely by form rather than any lingering injury issue.

.Port Adelaide’s Paddy Ryder at training at Alberton Oval. Picture: Tait Schmaal

“No injury,” said Power defence coach Brett Montgomery on Thursday night. “(Ryder has had) an inability to get around the ground … and we set the bar high.

“We tried two rucks, which is not everyone’s cup of tea (in the AFL today) … and now we go with one.”

Dixon returns to the AFL after having his right leg broken and right ankle dislocated in a marking contest against West Coast at Adelaide Oval in August. After some setbacks in his recovery in March, Dixon has signalled his power on the football field in two games in the SANFL with the Port Adelaide Magpies.

“We’ve lacked that beacon, that target,” Montgomery said of the return of Dixon. “And some guys (in attack) will walk taller with Charlie back.

“We’re confident in what Dixon will dish up,” added Montgomery confirming the 200cm forward might not play total minutes against the Cats.

Thomas on Thursday dismissed any question on Hinkley’s tenure, although he did declare the Power might have deserved a 7-5 rather 6-6 win-loss so far this season.

“It is unfair that question — I ask how are we all performing (at Port Adelaide),” Thomas said.

“Given the disruption we have had to a lot of our senior players, right at this point I would be feeling comfortable with 7-5 but we are 6-6.

“We are thereabouts … but we have been inconsistent.”

Hinkley on Thursday night said he was “needing to reward” players in the SANFL who merit AFL selection.

“Selection is based on what gives the best opportunity every week,” Hinkley said.

“It has nothing to do with (Ryder and Westhoff’s future) at the club. It does have to do with form - and I am sure Paddy and Westy will come back to play strong football for us.”

GEELONG returns from the mid-season break with just one change with the recall of ruckman Darcy Fort to cover the loss of power Esava Ratugolea.

PORT ADELAIDE V GEELONG

Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7.10pm

POWER

B: Burton, Clurey, Houston

HB: Hartlett, Jonas, Byrne-Jones

C: Duursma, R.Gray, Amon

HF: Ebert, Howard, Farrell

F: S.Gray, Dixon, Rozee

FOLL: Lycett, Wines, Boak

I/C: Bonner, Garner, Motlop, Butters

EMG: Drew, Lienert, Ladhams, Powell-Pepper

In: B.Ebert, C.Dixon, O.Wines, J.Garner

Out: J.Lienert, S.Powell-Pepper, P.Ryder, J.Westhoff

CATS

B: Henry, Kolodjashnij, O’Connor

HB: Blicavs, Taylor, Stewart

C: Dangerfield, Kelly, Duncan

HF: Dahlhaus, Fort, Hawkins

F: Ablett, Rohan, Miers

FOLL: Stanley, Guthrie, Selwood

I/C: Tuohy, Atkins, Clark, Parfitt

EMG: Parsons, Smith, Fogarty, Bews

In: D. Fort

Out: E. Ratugolea (hamstring)