AFL 2021 Port Adelaide: All the Power news ahead of Round 2
Port vice-captain Hamish Hartlett has been questioning his place in the Power’s best-22. Now Ken Hinkley has had his say, revealing his side’s Round 2 line-up.
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Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he doesn’t mind vice-captain Hamish Hartlett doubting whether he is in the Power’s best 22 because it gives his players some “edginess”.
Hartlett will return for Saturday’s clash against Essendon at Adelaide Oval as a replacement for Riley Bonner, who is in a leg brace and on crutches through as “extra precaution” after suffering a hamstring tendon injury in Round 1.
Hartlett, 30, has been questioning whether he has a place in the Power’s best 22 but Hinkley said, while he didn’t mind it, his vice-captain had nothing to worry about.
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“Hammer is a worrier at the best of times, he’s always had challenges with his body and as you get older they probably become a bit more real for him,” Hinkley said.
“They sit right at the front of his mind... but he has had a great preparation, we could have nearly played him last week but we just gave him some time, mentally he just needs to make sure he is right in himself and I think we are looking forward to seeing a pretty impressive Hamish Hartlett.
“It’s not that long I remember against Geelong in a final here when he dominated.
“I think you’ll be amazed at how many players always question are they in the team or not in the team, the strength of our squad suggests you have to be in good form and from my point of view it’s good that they have some edginess about them.”
That will be the Power’s only change from the side that opened the season with a comfortable win over North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium with Miles Bergman holding his spot.
Tom Rockliff is in line to be the medical substitute again, with Hinkley saying he was an ideal player for the role.
“The sub used to be a nightmare for the coach telling the player but for us its about being a part of the team and squad,” Hinkley said.
“And Rock has absolutely incredible football intelligence, I think he’s the perfect sub for us.
“I hope we don’t have to use the sub... but what I did know is that his ability to educate and read the game from ground level really helps his teammates.”
‘Ecstatic’: Power skipper extends stay at Alberton
Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until the end of 2023.
The Power skipper was contracted until the end of 2022, but the 30-year-old has extended his commitment to the club for an extra year.
Drafted as a rookie in 2011, Jonas has become one of the most reliable and consistent performers in the AFL and captain of the Power since 2019 – and as solo captain since 2020.
“I’m ecstatic to extend my stay at Port Adelaide,” Jonas said.
“The club is in a great spot and I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of it until the end of 2023.
“I’m obviously pleased the club saw fit to come to me with an extension and I will continue to do all that I can both on and off the field in order for us to achieve our goals.”
Jonas has played 159 AFL games for the Power and finished in third place and runner up for the John Cahill Medal in 2020 and 2018, respectively.
He has also been an All-Australian nominee on three occasions, including last season.
Port Adelaide general manager of football Chris Davies said the club was rapt to have Jonas extend his deal.
“Tom is a fearless player, a fantastic leader of our playing group and an outstanding ambassador for our club,” he said.
“His style sets the tone for his teammates and he continues to show that he is willing to do whatever is necessary for our club to be successful.”
ROZEE RETURN PUT ON ICE
Connor Rozee won’t play against Essendon this Saturday with Port Adelaide to take a no-risk approach for its young star.
Rozee was in the mix to take on the Bombers at Adelaide Oval, the Power’s first home game of the season, after a quicker than expected recovery from surgery on his foot following a new problem that was hampering him.
He was running at Alberton’s training session on Tuesday, but the wound from surgery had not quite healed and Rozee will now target the Round 3 match against West Coast in Perth for his return.
“I got pretty close but it’s probably too much of a risk to push for this weekend so it’s looking like I’ll be back next weekend,” Rozee said on FIVEaa.
“The one thing that’s holding me up is that (the wound) is mostly healed, but there’s probably about 10 per-cent that’s not quite there.
“So they’ll give me the extra week to make sure it’s healed and not risk anything because that might put me out for a few weeks if it opens up again.”
SPP DEVISING PLAN TO BE MORE ‘STABLE’ OFF THE FIELD
Port Adelaide still expects Sam Powell-Pepper to return to the club and begin training next month.
Powell-Pepper has been away from Alberton for just under two weeks after he was “granted personal leave from the club to focus on his wellbeing”.
When the Power made the announcement of Powell-Pepper’s hiatus, prompted by the 23-year-old missing a weekend training session, general manager of football Chris Davies said he was expecting the big-bodied midfielder to return to the club some time in April.
The Advertiser understands this is still the expectation at the club, as Power staff continue to have regular contact with him as he spends time away from Alberton.
Port Adelaide forwards coach Nathan Bassett said earlier this week he had caught up recently with Powell-Pepper, who is also still recovering from a broken hand suffered in training.
“I did catch up with him last week and he seemed to be going OK,” Bassett said on SEN SA.
“He’s just looking at his plans in the future to be just a little bit more stable off the field, Travis (Boak) has been great for him for a good couple of years.
“But he has to learn to stand on his own two feet as well and we have to help him with that.”
Powell-Pepper lived with Boak until the end of last year when he moved out on his own.
He was later joined by new Power recruit Aliir Aliir, who has made a sensational start to his career at Port since coming across from Sydney, as a housemate.
The Power are set to have a big boost for this weekend’s match against Essendon with Connor Rozee right in the mix for selection after a surprisingly quick recovery from surgery on his foot.
Rozee was running at Port’s training session on Tuesday in a positive sign for his chances of facing the Bombers.
Hamish Hartlett is also available again, after sitting out Round 1, and could come in for Riley Bonner, who will miss at least a month after suffering a hamstring tendon injury against North Melbourne.
Draftee Lachie Jones is out for two to three weeks after injuring his hamstring in the Magpies trial game against Sturt on Friday night, having been close for a Round 1 debut.
Port’s reserve side will take on Adelaide on Friday night ahead of the clubs’ AFL teams both playing on Saturday.
FANTASIA’S CHEEKY BOMBERS CHALLENGE PLAN
– Liz Walsh
Port Adelaide’s star small forward Orazio Fantasia has checked off the first thing on his “to do list” for 2021: debut for his new club and make an immediate impact.
Next up? Play well against his former side.
He won’t wait long for the chance to do that, with the Power to face his old club, Essendon, at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Fantasia kicked four goals on debut for the Power on Sunday in their big 52-point win over North Melbourne and he said he was looking forward to the challenge of facing the Bombers.
“I’ll probably get nervous closer to the game, but I’ve got nothing but love for those guys. It will probably be weird running out against them, and I’ll probably be a bit cheeky and call out for the ball if they’ve got it and try to get into their heads,” he added with a laugh.
It won’t go unnoticed by his new coach, Ken Hinkley, that he comes into Port with insider knowledge of this weekend’s opposition.
“I used to take a lot of notes, I still take a lot of notes now, so I’ve got a few things,” Fantasia said.
“Razz” played 80 games for the Bombers after debuting in 2014 and kicked 114 goals, but struggled with injury and hadn’t played a game since Round 7, last year before requesting a trade to Port, bringing him home to South Australia.
He said being back surrounded by family and friends, eating his mother’s home-cooked pasta, going fishing with his father and playing golf with teammates had all combined to help him get his mind and body right in the lead up to season 2021.
“I was definitely nervous (debuting for Port), your first game for a new club in a new system and playing with new people, but I think the work we’ve done throughout the season and me personally getting my body where it needed to be, I was confident I could play well,” he said.
“I’m a big stress-head, so coming home … being around my family and friends, my partner and her family has been massive . (I’m) sleeping better, recovering better, and my body’s just in such a good position from that.”
Fantasia said the key to him fitting in well with his new teammates had been “just being myself”.
“What I bring to the team is not just speed, I talk a lot on the field and get along with my teammates really well so being out there if I can help my teammates out in any way I feel like I can bring that to the weekend,” he said.
And he can’t wait to play his first game at his new home ground — Adelaide Oval — and hear the fans sing “Never Tear Us Apart” before the game.
“For me, that’s going to be huge.”
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Originally published as AFL 2021 Port Adelaide: All the Power news ahead of Round 2
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