Port Adelaide drops young midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper, challenging him to refocus
PORT Adelaide has dropped young midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper while the Crows are left with a short defence without Daniel Talia at AFL team selection.
PORT Adelaide is sending a message to two of its highly talented young guns by dropping Sam Powell-Pepper and Riley Bonner as the Power remains on edge for securing an AFL finals berth.
And the Crows, who have a very slim chance of playing in next month’s top-eight series, will be short in defence with the loss of key defender Daniel Talia and the continued absence of switch-hitter Mitch McGovern.
Talia’s exit from the Adelaide defence throws the huge challenge of containing GWS key forward Jeremy Cameron to the inexperienced key defender Alex Keath.
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The exit queue at selection for both SA-based AFL teams is as significant as the re-entries as the home-and-away series enters its last three games.
Seventh-ranked PORT ADELAIDE (12-7) will deal with its nemesis West Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday with key defender Dougal Howard returning after a two-game absence with a broken hand. This forces Jack Hombsch out of the 22 again.
Howard is one of three changes that have coach Ken Hinkley recalling forwards Sam Gray and Aidyn Johnson, who continues his yo-yo journey in the AFL this season.
Powell-Pepper is dropped for the second time in his two seasons at Port Adelaide. Last season it was in Round 21 when Hinkley felt he was “tired”. This time, there is a message for Powell-Pepper to concentrate on his strengths — contested football — and to strengthen his accountability for opponents.
“Defensively,” said Power defence coach Nathan Bassett, “he has not been getting his job done. Offensively, he has been good. He is still learning the game. He has to stay focused on defence.”
Bonner, a 22-game player in three seasons, has been on the edge in recent weeks, particularly when he was given a stronger reminder of his need to win contest with Hinkley’s stern message at the last change at Ballarat a fortnight ago.
Second-placed WEST COAST (14-5) has dealt with its tough week — that has put star midfielder Andrew Gaff out of the team for the rest of the season with an eight-game suspension — by calling up two midfielders, Dom Sheed and former Power player Brendon Ah Chee.
They replace Gaff and injured key defender Will Schofield (hamstring).
The Eagles remain without key forward Josh Kennedy, who is expected to resume full training next week.
ADELAIDE (10-9, 12th) will rebuild its defence with Kyle Cheney and boost its midfield with the scoring power of Richard Douglas in Canberra on Saturday.
They replace Talia, who was sore again in training this week after being battered in the derby, and Riley Knight (knee) from the 22 who regained the Showdown Shield on Saturday.
Cheney resumes after serving a one-match AFL-imposed ban. Douglas has missed a month with an ankle injury.
Adelaide must win all its three games against Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Saturday, North Melbourne (home) and last-ranked Carlton (Etihad Stadium) — and boost its 98.6 percentage by 10 points — to qualify for a fourth consecutive finals series.
Third-ranked GWS (12-6-1) has significantly improved its midfield — its ace for this match — with the return of Dylan Shiel from an ankle injury. He is one of four changes for the Giants who also regain Tim Taranto (knee), Sam Reid (knee) and Ryan Griffen (hamstring).
They replace ruckman Dawson Simpson (ankle), Toby Greene (hamstring), Brett Deledio (calf) and Sam Taylor (hamstring).
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