Power speedster Jared Polec on delayed start to AFL campaign

PORT Adelaide wingman Jared Polec will look to SANFL trials after having his AFL pre-season wiped out by a “significant” hamstring injury.

Luke Shuey of the Eagles is tackled by Jared Polec of the Power.

PORT Adelaide speedster Jared Polec’s AFL pre-season is gone by a “significant” hamstring injury.

The Power’s original hope to have Polec in action against the Crows in the pre-season closer at Alberton Oval on Saturday, March 10 is dashed by the club’s new forecast of having the wingman in recovery mode for the next month.

But Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley - who describes the hamstring strain as a “significant one” - remains confident Polec will be on his selection whiteboard for the AFL premiership season-opener against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, March 24.

Jared Polec of the Power reacts after kicking a goal.

This plan will be tested Port Adelaide will seek to have Polec playing again on Thursday, March 15 - in an SANFL trial against the Crows State league group at Alberton Oval.

Polec suffered the setback in a competitive training session earlier this month, days before the Power had its internal trial at Alberton where team-mates Chad Wingard and North Melbourne recruit Lindsay Thomas were also held back with hamstring issues.

Polec’s hamstring was severely strained as the muscle was stretched while he pushed off his feet in a tackle.

The Power dismisses the injury was the result of muscle fatigue or a question on the club’s training program.

To this point, Hinkley rejects any common link in the Polec, Wingard and Thomas hamstring issues as a further question of the Power’s fitness program.

“Thomas is back-related tightness .. and age (29); it’s not what I’d call a hamstring injury,” Hinkley said. “Chad’s not a worry. Polec is a significant one.”

The Power will start the JLT Community Series pre-season competition with just two players unable to be considered for the clash with West Coast at Leederville Oval in Perth on Sunday - defender Matthew Broadbent and Polec.

Broadbent remains in recovery after last week having the second round of ankle surgery in five months to ease the repetitive pain that derailed his AFL program last season.

There is no comeback date for Broadbent, who could miss the first month of the AFL premiership season.

Port Adelaide will today (Tuesday) finalise its preferred 26-man squad for the clash with the Eagles - and choose a strong line-up noting the need to take full advantage of the AFL pre-season series that has been reduced from three to two games this year.

The Power has declared All-Australian midfielder-forward Robbie Gray, who withdrew from last week’s AFLX series in which he was to be captain after reporting adductor soreness, is available to play against the Eagles.

So is Geelong free-agent recruit Steven Motlop (groin), one of the 11 new players at Alberton after an aggressive and productive play in the AFL player market in October and November. This also delivered Brisbane free-agent midfielder Tom Rockliff and Melbourne utility Jack Watts to Hinkley’s revamped squad.