Key forward Charlie Dixon looks to be fine for round one despite missing the last quarter in the Power’s Whyalla win over Bulldogs
Port Adelaide’s 10-point pre-season win over the Western Bulldogs was nearly overshadowed by a potential serious injury to Charlie Dixon, but Ken Hinkley says the key forward looks to be fine for round one.
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Port Adelaide has beaten two top eight sides in its pre-season after staging a thrilling late comeback, inspired by an unlikely hero, to down the Western Bulldogs in Whyalla.
But the biggest win for the Power will be Charlie Dixon looks to be OK for Round 1 after he sent an almighty scare through the Port camp when he pulled up very sore following a contest in the third quarter.
It initially looked to be a left ankle injury, then Dixon emerged for the final huddle with his left quad wrapped in ice.
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Ken Hinkley said it was a slight groin issue and he expected Dixon to play in Round 1, but admitted it was a heart in mouth moment for him.
“Nothing to serious, right now I would say he’s no risk for Round 1 but you are never sure,” Hinkley said.
“Because we have the week off I don’t think he will be any issue, (Scott) Lycett’s the same those boys should be fit and firing for Round 1 which is great.
“It certainly was (a scary moment) because I saw him do it in the contest, you do get a little concerned because we don’t have too many 6 foot 10 power forwards so we do need him a little bit.
“He’s also had a great pre-season, it would have been a shame for him to miss the start of the season.”
They will go into Round 1 with a second straight win over a top eight side from last season, with a 14.11 (95) to 13.7 (85) win over the Bulldogs to follow from their win over Brisbane two-weeks prior.
The Power have Jarrod Lienert to thank, after he kicked two goals in the final minute of a frantic ending to what was a thrilling contest.
In front of 4770 at Whyalla it was a game of single quarters as both sides took advantage of the strong wind to one side of the ground to go on big scoring runs.
The wind at Port’s back proved to be just enough to come from behind and claim a thrilling victory to end a big pre-season for the Power.
These are our key take-outs from the match.
Marshall moves forward
Until Dixon went down, it was looking a good day for Port Adelaide’s forward line selection questions.
For all the talk and excitement around Mitch Georgiades and whether he could be a Round 1 bolter for the Power, it was Marshall who really pressed his case to face the Gold Coast in a fortnight.
Neither truly impressed in Port’s first pre-season hit-out against Brisbane, but against the Bulldogs it was Marshall who took a big step towards a starting spot against the Suns.
Now in the vacated No. 4 jumper that once belonged to mentor Paddy Ryder, Marshall seriously impressed as the second tall to Dixon in Port’s forward line.
He ended up with two goals and seven marks but the two moments that really stood out were a fantastic effort to save the ball on the goal line and then set up Justin Westhoff in the first and a smooth dummy on former Crow Alex Keath up the ground.
At the other end of the ground, Josh Bruce booted four goals.
English emergence
Playing in his home town, and with Ken Hinkley declaring he was to be the solo ruck for Port Adelaide – just the way he likes to play – a big day loomed for Scott Lycett.
And while Lycett was solid before his day ended after half time to be managed emerging at the three-quarter time huddle with an iced ankle - getting nine disposals, five contested possessions and 10 hit-outs – he was arguably upstaged when he was on his home ground by one of the rising ruck stars of the competition.
Compared to Brodie Grundy, Tim English has had a tough start to his AFL career for the Bulldogs at times – getting outmuscled by the bigger and older bodies he has come up against.
But with a bulked-up frame evident at Whyalla, the 22-year-old didn’t just hold his own with the recent member of the All Stars in State of Origin – he arguably had the better of Lycett when they were on the field.
English finished with two goals, 13 disposals and 37 hit-outs and, and showed that after a couple of years after taking punishment from other rucks he is ready to dish some back in 2020.
Frantic fourth
It was a pre-season game in all but name in the final stages of the match as the Power threw everything they could to get a winner, and the Bulldogs tried everything to reply them.
The tackles flew in, at one point Tom Rockliff and Matt Suckling looked so tired going for the ball they couldn’t even pick it up.
The way Port players rushed around Lienert after he kicked his second on the siren showed how much the win over the highly fancied Bulldogs meant to the Power.
Originally published as Key forward Charlie Dixon looks to be fine for round one despite missing the last quarter in the Power’s Whyalla win over Bulldogs