Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder vows to push through the pain barrier in a bid to take on Collingwood at the MCG
PORT Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder says he is prepared to play through the pain to front for the Power in a season-defining clash with Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
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PORT Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder says he is prepared to play through the pain barrier and do everything he can to front for the Power in a season-defining clash with Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Ryder succumbed to recurring hip pain in the weekend’s heartbreaking loss to West Coast and has been resting up in a bid to prove his fitness ahead of decision-day on Friday.
“It’s a huge game and I want to be involved in it,” he said.
“I’ve played the whole year feeling pretty sore through my hip so it’s nothing new, and if I’m able to test well on Friday there’s a pretty good chance I’ll be playing.
“Walking around at the moment nothing feels too bad so with a bit of rest I’m hopeful of playing. It’s a big game for the club - as all our games have been - and next week as well.
“I’d rather be playing in these last couple of games to see where we’re going than sitting on the sidelines so I’m always going to put my hand up.
“With everyone who’s got a bit of soreness it does hold them back a bit but I still feel like I can have an impact otherwise, so I’m confident I’ll be able to get out there and play.
“But it’s day by day, I’ll have a few days off legs and let it settle a bit and wait till Friday when we have our captain’s run and the guys will test me out to see how I’m feeling.”
The reigning All-Australian ruckman is also confident he has plenty of footy left in his body after 224 AFL games although he has also required a heat pack on the boundary this season to manage his achilles which he hurt early in the year.
This has resulted in the curious sight of the Power fitness staff brining a microwave oven to the interchange bench.
“It’s on-going management, once I get the tendon warmed up and it feels good I want to keep it warm as much as I can so that heat pack does that,” said Ryder, 30.
“If I have too much of a break and not move around it gets a bit cold but as long as I stay on top of it, it’s fine.
“I’m dealing with the doctors and physios who have been able to keep me out on the track and training so that’s positive.
“I know what I’ve had to deal with this year injury-wise and haven’t really had a chance to be able to rest the injury and get it right, people think it’s an old thing but really it’s an injury that we haven’t had the luxury of getting a few weeks off so there are always risks of re-aggravating it.
“But I don’t lose any sleep over moving forward because I’m still playing good footy and I know once I get my body right then I’ll be back to my best.”
Meanwhile also at Alberton, Port Adelaide has declared Charlie Dixon’s surgery on his broken right leg a success after a nasty incident in Saturday’s loss to the Eagles.
Dixon had surgery on Monday and was home on Tuesday after posting graphic images of the break on his Instagram account.
“He’s in good spirits and will commence rehab next week, and will be looking forward to another strong pre-season,” Port’s head of medical services Tim O’Leary said.
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