Port Adelaide track watch: Sam Powell-Pepper gets through first full contact session in 10 months
Rory Atkins on kick-in duty, the SSP midfield audition and Sam Powell-Pepper ticking off a major milestone in his comeback – there was plenty happening at Alberton on Friday.
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Port Adelaide forward Sam Powell-Pepper has passed one of his final tests in his comeback from a serious knee injury, getting through his first full contact training session in 10 months.
The Power hard nut did not hold back during match simulation, charging at close to top speed at a loose ball inside his team’s attacking 50 and later catching captain Connor Rozee with a high fend-off.
Port mixed the sides at Alberton Oval on Friday, when the majority of their best players were available.
Hardworking on-baller Willem Drew was jogging laps for the first time since having foot surgery a fortnight ago, while tall forward Jeremy Finlayson (managed), defender Lachie Jones (managed), half-back Josh Sinn (managed), draftee Joe Berry (poke in the eye), running backman Kane Farrell (hamstring) and veteran Travis Boak (family reasons) were not involved.
Key defender Aliir Aliir was back in action after being sidelined earlier in the week with illness, only to come off late in the scratch match on Friday with an eye poke.
Recruit Jack Lukosius was busy, kicking several goals, including a 55m bomb at the northern end.
The Horny One 🤩 #SuperCoachpic.twitter.com/EoVzvqCVhw
— Haydn 'Dos' Kenny (@HKdos) February 7, 2025
Jack Watkins and Josh Lai both had bright moments as they continued their battle for a list spot.
Watkins showed his customary grunt as a full-time midfielder, while Lai, playing mostly on wing, took a nice mark midway through the match.
All the Power’s main on-ballers, including Rozee, Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis and Ollie Wines, played solely in the middle without rotating forward.
With Farrell, Sinn and Jones not involved, Jase Burgoyne rotated at times to half-back, while ex-Gold Coast Sun Rory Atkins and Dylan Williams took the bulk of the kick-ins.
Originally published as Port Adelaide track watch: Sam Powell-Pepper gets through first full contact session in 10 months
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