Port Adelaide focusing on a fast start against the St Kilda in Shanghai, with Lycett, Rockliff and Burton all expected to play

Port Adelaide has had a “Royal Commission” into its dismal first-quarters as it prepares to fly to China on Tuesday night with Tom Rockliff, Scott Lycett and Ryan Burton all expected to play St Kilda.

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Port Adelaide has had a “Royal Commission” into its dismal first-quarters as it prepared to fly to China on Tuesday night with Tom Rockliff, Scott Lycett and Ryan Burton both expected to play St Kilda in Shanghai on Sunday.

Burton has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, Lycett missed last week with adductor tightness, while Rockliff had scans which cleared him of hamstring damage in Saturday’s loss to Hawthorn in Launceston.

Hamish Hartlett was also bound for China but he is not expected to make his AFL return after a knee reconstruction and according to co-captain Tom Jonas is there for ambassador duties and to be on standby as an emergency.

Vice-captain Hamish Hartlett, left, and Charlie Dixon at Alberton Oval on Tuesday. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

Zak Butters sent a mild scare through training at Alberton on Tuesday when he appeared to hurt his shoulder but has been cleared, while Brad Ebert was back on the track as he recovers from a series of concussions this year.

The Power is expected to arrive in Shanghai around 3pm SA time on Wednesday to prepare for their third game in China.

Jonas said Port’s slow starts were costing them games this season after they trailed by 25 points without scoring against the Hawks at quarter-time on Saturday.

“Once again we were playing catch up so there’s been a bit of a Royal Commission into that this week to work out what’s going on there,” he told The Lowdown podcast.

“For the first time this year it was a little bit disappointing some of the efforts on the replay and in the review were a bit damning so we’ll address that and come out breathing fire this week.”

Brad Ebert is back on the training track at Port Adelaide after recovering from a series of concussions this season. Picture: Kelly Barnes (AAP).

Asked about Port’s gang-tackle on former teammate Chad Wingard in the first quarter, Jonas said that was the standard the club expected irrespective of who had the footy.

“It was more about the whole team and they’ve (Hawthorn) got a lot of dangerous players,” he said.

“It was good to see that (tackle on Wingard) but we want that to be the minimum standard, we don’t want that to be just because it’s Chad and only happen once a quarter — that’s the standard we want for every player every time they get the ball, that fierce attack on the ball and the man.”

Jonas is joined on the podcast by Adelaide midfielder Hugh Greenwood and they dissected the Crows’ fadeout against West Coast on Saturday.

“West Coast’s group of senior players are super incredible, we know they’re premiership players but they’re Adelaide Oval specialists and last quarter specialists,” Jonas said.

“When the game was on the line, Shannon Hurn, Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Kennedy — didn’t have a massive night but kicks an incredible goal — and Jack Darling four marks down the line, they are super impressive.

“I’m very envious and that’s as a team where we aspire to get to.

“Aside from Brodie Grundy my next pick would be Yeo in the AFL, he’s the ultimate utility.”

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