Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall ruptures Achilles tendon in big blow at pre-season training

Port Adelaide has suffered a huge blow to its new-look forward line with key forward Todd Marshall suffering a devastating injury in training.

Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall has ruptured his Achilles tendon at pre-season training, putting his 2025 campaign at risk.

The 26-year-old’s luckless run with injuries continued after he suffered the serious injury at Alberton Oval on Monday early on in the Power’s session.

Marshall suffered the injury when he was changing direction in one of three small sided games being run at the time.

The one he was in was stopped for several minutes as coaches and medical staff surrounded the key forward.

He was eventually assisted off the ground and sent for scans, which confirmed the devastating blow.

Todd Marshall has picked up a serious injury. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images.

The Power have not yet put a time frame on Marshall’s recovery, but he will have surgery this week.

He could face between six to 12 months on the sidelines.

It comes as Marshall was training without a non-contact hat, in an extremely positive sign for him after his concussion issues in recent years.

After his fifth concussion in three years in the semi-final win over Hawthorn last year there was a cloud over his playing future.

But after undergoing brain scans Marshall embarked on pre-season, where he has been building strongly.

However he is facing not playing any footy in 2025.

Marshall is contracted until the end of 2029 at the Power.

Todd Marshall will miss a large chunk of, if not all, of the 2025 season. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It was a bruising session at Alberton on Monday, with the Power players cracking in during match-sim.

Vice-captain Zak Butters and Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines had a confrontation where they both scruffed each other in the physical session.

Butters also cleaned up captain Connor Rozee at a stoppage as the Power’s star midfielders went head-to-head.

Jason Horne-Francis was in dominant form in the battle of the stars, with the former No. 1 pick explosive at stoppages and going forward and kicking goals.,

Train-on player Jack Watkins was also part of the midfield battle as he tries to win a spot on the Power’s list and had some good moments on the ball.

He is up against Cheltenham product Josh Lai, who was deployed on the wing during match-sim and also had some impressive moments.

Draftee Joe Berry was part of what looked like to be the stronger forward group featuring Mitch Georgiades, Jack Lukosius, Ollie Lord, Joe Richards and Willie Rioli and Darcy Byrne-Jones interchanging.

With Miles Bergman, Kane Farrell and Ryan Burton not in the main session, with Travis Boak and Sam Powell-Pepper also doing running, Josh Sinn and Dylan Williams were part of what looked to be the stronger back line.

Sinn came off the ground after a contest and was attended to by trainers but in a good sign for the young gun he was able to return to match sim.

Port head of medical services Tim O’Leary said the club was “shattered” for Marshall. “We will put plenty of support behind Todd and we know he will approach his rehab with the same positive attitude and resilience that he has shown throughout his career,” he said.

Originally published as Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall ruptures Achilles tendon in big blow at pre-season training