Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall won’t go on long-term injury list until after surgery

Port Adelaide has made a swift call on whether to place injured forward Todd Marshall on its inactive list, a move which would have opened the door for the club to list both its SSP trainees.

Port Adelaide will give Todd Marshall every opportunity to play in 2025, holding off on putting him on the inactive list until he recovers from surgery.

Marshall will go under the knife this week after rupturing his achilles tendon at training at Alberton on Monday.

While the forward’s season is at risk, the Power will wait until closer to the May list lodgement deadline before deciding whether to officially rule him out for the campaign in order to create a squad spot.

Port Adelaide already has a vacant position after passing on its second pre-season draft pick in November.

Former North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins and lower league speedster Josh Lai are competing for that spot during the supplemental selection period.

North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/AFL Photos.

Sean Lai has been training with the Power. Picture: Josh Chadwick.

If Marshall is added to the inactive list, the Power can assess competitions across the country for potential replacements ahead of the mid-season draft.

Another tall forward would be an obvious candidate, but Port remained well stocked in that area despite losing Marshall long-term and Charlie Dixon to retirement.

Their absences open opportunities for Jack Lukosius, Jeremy Finlayson and Ollie Lord.

Mitch Georgiades, who the team does not consider a key forward at 192cm, is fresh from a career-best campaign.

The Power could choose to two play ruckmen for some matches, bringing Ivan Soldo or Dante Visentini into the frame alongside Jordon Sweet.

Marshall’s injury is expected to sideline him for at least six months.

It happened when he changed direction during a small-sided game.

The setback continues a rough run for Marshall, who has suffered five concussions in three years and battled hip issues the past two seasons.

Todd Marshall is likely to miss most of the 2025 season. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

He played 19 matches in 2024, missing the qualifying and preliminary finals with concussion.

The Power will reveal a timeline for his recovery in the coming weeks.

Adelaide defender Wayne Milera is hopeful of lining up in the Crows’ trial games as he makes his comeback from a ruptured patella tendon.

Milera played the first three matches last season before suffering the season-ending injury against Fremantle in round 3.

The 27-year-old is now in the final stages of his recovery, progressing through contact training.

He told the club’s website he was physically and mentally refreshed being back training.

“I’m going into contests not feeling or thinking about the knee, which is great,” Milera said.

“There’s no second-guessing at all out there and I’m really confident in the work I’ve done.

“I’ve been able to train with a lot of freedom, just taking each drill as it comes and running around with a lot of confidence.

“Everything is tracking very positively at the moment, thankfully.

“I should be all good to go by the time the first trial matches roll around.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide forward Todd Marshall won’t go on long-term injury list until after surgery