Selection squeeze tightens at Port Adelaide with list looking healthy heading into 2020 premiership season

Port Adelaide development coach Scott Thompson says the Power have close to a full bill of health as they prepare for their final pre-season hitout against the Western Bulldogs next weekend.

ON THE RUN: Young Port Adelaide forward Tobin Cox bursts clear against the Crows on Saturday. Picture: DAVID MARIUZ (AAP).

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Port Adelaide has raised the stakes for its final pre-season game against the Western Bulldogs by declaring its round one line-up is far from locked in.

With a very healthy list and strong form from some of its kids, Port – targeting a premiership in its 150th year – has put its squad on notice before it heads to Whyalla for its community camp.

“We’re certainly not locked into a final 22 at this stage for round one,’’ said development and midfield coach Scott Thompson after the Power maintained its unbeaten pre-season run by holding off a fast-finishing Crows outfit to win Saturday’s under-23 Showdown by six points at Thebarton Oval.

“There were certainly players running around (against Adelaide) who are putting their hand up for selection.

“There was a lot to like – every player had their moments and put themselves on show

– and I’m hoping out of that game that there will be quite a few players who will push for a game against the Bulldogs. And from there anything can happen.’’

Port, which has missed the finals in the past two years, has hit the ground running this pre-season campaign, with a 21-point Marsh Community Series win against Brisbane in Queensland followed by the trail game victory against the Crows.

Significantly, the Power has a healthy list, with Thompson noting: “we’ve basically got all 45 listed players available to choose from’’.

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Port Adelaide’s Sam Mayes dishes out a handball in the trial against the Crows. Picture: David Mariuz (AAP)

Last year’s top draft pick Miles Bergman is close to resuming from an ankle injury while young second-year defender Riley Grundy hobbled out of the trial with a sore knee but Thompson said he didn’t expect his injury to be serious.

Former Demon Jack Watts – on the comeback trial from a badly broken leg – has been battling a sore calf but also is close to resuming while father-son draft pick Jackson Mead is ready to go after overcoming a slight hamstring strain.

“It’s a great position for us to be in at this time of the year,’’ Thompson told FIVEaa.

“Every team would love to have a clean bill of health and we’re pretty close to that at the moment.

“With that comes some (selection) pressure, which is great because you want internal pressure on the guys who have been playing in our senior team to maintain their spot.

“That healthy internal competition from underneath makes everyone at the top perform a bit better, so it’s a great position for us to be sitting in coming into what’s going to hopefully be a big year for us.’’

Thompson named ruckman Sam Hayes and midfielders Joe Atley, Willem Drew and Kane Farrell as among those to impress him against the Crows.

Port used 26 players against Brisbane in its opening Community Series game but Thompson said it would play reduced numbers against the Bulldogs in Whyalla ton Saturday as it tunes up for round one.

“We’ll go for a more settled line up and use rotations the way we will in the season proper,’’ he said.

Originally published as Selection squeeze tightens at Port Adelaide with list looking healthy heading into 2020 premiership season