Connor Rozee leaves Port Adelaide internal trial match after injury scare

Still reeling from losing Zak Butters for up to two months, Port Adelaide has been dealt another injury scare after Connor Rozee limped off Alberton Oval on Friday night.

Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee left the Power’s internal trial with a toe injury but assistant coach Hamish Hartlett says the captain won’t add to the lengthy injury list at Alberton.

Already without vice-captain Zak Butters, key forward Todd Marshall and key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher for an extended period of time the Power can’t afford any more injuries to its stars and there were some hearts in mouths at Alberton when Rozee went down in the first of three periods on Friday evening.

The Power captain, who was in sparkling form in the pre-season win over St Kilda, hurt his toe in a tackle with young star Jason Horne-Francis and after limping off the field he did not return to the action.

Rozee and Horne-Francis had gone head-to-head moments before and the young star chased down the Power skipper and tackled him from behind.

Hartlett said Rozee was fine.

“He bumped his toe but it was all smiles after the game so no issues,” he said.

“It is honestly a case of it was a little bit sore after, he came off fine and was upstairs and absolute no worries afterwards.

“He has done everything so far this pre-season so it is an absolute zero-risk policy with Connor.

“The last thing you want in any of these games, particularly internal trials is your better players getting injured and there was a contest late in on the back pocket where Jason Horne-Francis and Logan Evans were tangling up and everyone was sort of holding their breath.

“So just a very minor incident, he is good for it and we have come through the other end pretty well.”

Young forward Tom Anastasopoulos also departed with a rolled ankle, while ruckman Jordon Sweet finished with ice on his knee.

Anastasopoulos will have scans on his ankle, while Sweet was just being managed.

Defenders Esava Ratugolea and Ryan Burton did not play in the internal as they did work on the sidelines, potentially meaning that a Round 1 spot against Collingwood might be a bit too beyond them.

Veteran Travis Boak also did work on the sidelines as he was managed ahead of the season.

Jeremy Finlayson again played as a key defender and impressed.

The Power did not have its A’s against its B’s, mixing up the teams.

Connor Rozee shows signs of pain. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Jordon Sweet and Ivan Soldo go head-to-head. Picture: Kelly Barnes

But some of the players you would expect to be facing the Magpies were played alongside each other.

Finlayson and Aliir played as key defenders together for the black team, along with Josh Sinn and Logan Evans.

Evans in particular showed plenty of drive off halfback, especially with his kicking.

For the teal side Kane Farrell was prolific, demonstrating he could be the early Dan Houston replacement.

He also kicked a massive goal from outside 50.

In the forward lines, Jack Lukosius and Willie Rioli linked up well for the black forward line while draftee Joe Berry has surely all but locked in a Round 1 spot with the small forward impressing.

He kicked a goal, was busy around the ground and even had some time on the ball.

For the teal side, Joe Richards continued to impress and show he is looking like a shrewd acquisition by the Power ahead of a clash against his former side next week.

He kicked a fantastic goal in the fourth term.

Sam Powell-Pepper showed his trademark hunt at the footy, drawing a big cheer from the crowd at Alberton when his pressure act resulted in a turnover.

Originally published as Connor Rozee leaves Port Adelaide internal trial match after injury scare