AFL injury news round 2: Port set to hand Jeremy Finlayson reprieve to cover Jack Lukosius
Port Adelaide are in an injury hole with yet another tall going down on the weekend. But the door has re-opened for Jeremy Finlayson after he was dropped less than a week ago.
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Injury has led to Jeremy Finlayson being the answer for Port Adelaide before and the Power could turn to him once more.
And while he was dropped by the Power following his Round 1 showing as a defender, the leader of Port Adelaide’s forward line Mitch Georgiades says the swingman can come in and help fill the void left by Jack Lukosius after his fractured kneecap.
The Power’s big off-season recruit will spend the next three to four months on the sidelines after he had surgery on Monday on the fractured kneecap he suffered in Port’s win over Richmond.
Adding to Todd Marshall’s achilles injury, it further reinforces Georgiades’ status as the king of the Power’s new look forward line.
But who will be alongside him in battle is still somewhat up in the air.
Finlayson was sent back to defence before being dropped as a result of the injuries there, while young key forward Ollie Lord has been overlooked for the first two games of the season.
Esava Ratugolea was used as a forward to end last season but was earmarked to play as a defender this season and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is still some time away.
Georgiades said he believed the Power had the options to replace Lukosius as his partner.
“I think we have plenty of options and that is something we have had over pre-season, we lost Todd and Jack just recently,” he said.
“But we have Jeremy who can play there, Esava has played there in the past I think on the weekend as well we managed to play reasonably well without him.
“So there are plenty of options but we will wait and see.”
Finlayson did not play on the weekend as he was an emergency for the Power’s side.
But with Lord a test for the clash against Essendon after suffering a shoulder injury in the SANFL trial against West Adelaide, he would be a likely option to return to the side to take on the Bombers.
The Power will be hoping for Finlayson to return to the form he showed before a 2024 campaign influenced by a number of factors.
After arriving at the club from GWS for the 2022 season, when injury forced Ken Hinkley to throw Finlayson into the ruck over an eight game period he was the No. 1 ranked ruckman in the competition according to Champion Data’s AFL Player Ratings despite rarely winning the hitouts.
Not only that, he was also ranked No. 6 for all players in the competition during that stretch.
Before three goalless games to end the season, Finlayson then kicked 38 majors in 2023 - with two bags of five.
Georgiades said it showed the impact Finlayson could have.
“We know Jeremy is a pretty skillful player, he can do some stuff that other players can’t do,” he said.
“He can play in the air and on the ground… to have him up forward will be nice and he can provide another path for us.
“I think just consistency is key for Jeremy, we know what he can do, he is a pretty special player and a talented player but consistent actions is what is going to put him in the best place for the team.”
Now the leader of the Power’s forward line, Georgiades himself faced a similar scenario to what Lord has dealt with - being out of the team after a so-so start to the year.
The overlooking of Lord for the Power’s two games so far has piqued the interest of Victorian clubs but Georgiades said he just had to keep working and faith.
“You just have to keep trying, keep working hard on and off the track,” he said.
“Sometimes things don’t work in your way but you just have to keep rocking up and trying to get better and things can turn.”
Georgiades finished with four goals against the Tigers on Saturday but there was some regret about one of them.
Travis Boak might have been breaking Port’s club games record but he was seemingly ignored by Georgiades for a milestone goal with the match well and truly sewn up.
Georgiades said he didn’t actually realise it was Boak who he could have set-up for a goal, and it quickly dawned on him that he was in the wrong.
“I know. I looked up and I kicked it and after I was like “oh my goodness this one is going to come back to bite me”,” he said.
“So, sorry Trav, I apologised right away and after the game I sent him another message but you know Trav he is a selfless guy but I definitely should have given him that one.
“It just got mentioned before in the team meeting that I owe him one.”
INJURY WOES ENGULF POWER WITH STAR RECRUIT SET FOR SIDELINE STINT
Port Adelaide’s injury woes have worsened with big-name recruit Jack Lukosius to miss an extended period after scans revealed he has fractured his kneecap, while the Power will also be without two defenders for its clash against Essendon.
While Lukosius was cleared of any structural damage to his knee following the first quarter collision with the hip of Richmond’s Jayden Short just minutes into his home debut for the Power, scans on Sunday revealed a fracture in his right kneecap.
Power list boss Chris Davies confirmed on Monday on radio that the former Sun will undergo surgery, and will miss 3-4 months in a big blow for Ken Hinkley’s side.
Lukosius suffered the injury just minutes into Saturday’s clash against the Tigers.
After extensive treatment by the Power medical staff he returned later on in the first quarter but after trying to run on it he again pulled up and was subbed out of the game.
While he was walking unassisted post game scans revealed that Lukosius – who made a big money move from Gold Coast to the Power in the off-season – would have to undergo surgery on his knee.
It is a massive blow for the Power with Lukosius – who firmed as a key part of Port’s new-look forward line – joining vice-captain Zak Butters, fellow key forward Todd Marshall and tall defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher on the sidelines.
Defenders Lachie Jones and Ryan Burton will also miss the Power’s clash against the Bombers on Thursday after they suffered injuries against the Tigers.
Burton suffered a hip flexor strain after he was caught in a tackle and is without a concrete timeline to return yet, while Jones’ adductor injury after hyperextending his knee is set to keep him out for one to two weeks.
In its injury report last week the Power listed Butters as being three to five weeks away, Zerk-Thatcher six to eight weeks away while a timeline for Marshall’s recovery from a torn achilles is still to be confirmed with Port yet to rule him out for the season.
It means the Power will again have to get creative when it comes to its forward line.
Young key forward Ollie Lord suffered a shoulder injury in Port’s SANFL trial on Saturday but scans have cleared him of an acute injury.
The Power have said he will be a test for the Bombers clash.
These injuries could open the door for Jeremy Finlayson to return to the side after he was dropped following the Round 1 loss to Collingwood, in which his game as a defender was criticised.
Esava Ratugolea has spent the past two weeks in the SANFL side and was flung forward late last year.
INJURY WRAP: LATEST ON STEWART, MCKAY
Geelong hopes Tom Stewart’s knee injury will require only a short-term absence as coach Chris Scott described his issue as “minor” ahead of a Saturday night clash against Brisbane.
Stewart’s knee hit the ground with some force in an incident likely to be a posterior cruciate ligament concern.
The star defender attempted to return to the ground but was unable to stay on the field for more than a few minutes.
A low-level PCL sprain that does not require surgery can sideline players for between 2-4 weeks, with Geelong already missing Jake Kolodjashnij (groin).
Stewart made a lightning return from a grade two medial ligament injury early in 2023 but it was to his left leg, not the right knee which made contact with the Marvel Stadium turf on Saturday night.
He will have scans to assess the injury on Sunday but coach Scott was excited by the performance of Ted Clohesy (16 possessions), who came on as the sub in his absence.
Geelong is confident Bailey Smith (calf) will be ready for that clash against Brisbane after being a late out against the Saints after pulling up sore against Fremantle.
St Kilda is counting the cost of a bruising victory over Geelong with Hunter Clark battling a groin concern and Liam Stocker out of the clash against Richmodn with concussion.
Stocker was concussed in a brilliant chase-down tackle that saved a Geelong goal so will go into the minimum 12-day concussion protocol.
Clark’s terrible run with injuries continued when he limped off the field, with scans on Sunday to confirm how many weeks he will be on the sidelines.
The Saints will hope to secure a 2-1 win loss record by beating Richmond at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon but Max King is still a few weeks away.
Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch will return from a week’s suspension to take on the Saints.
Tigers first-gamer Liam Fawcett looked impressive and kicked a booming goal, while second-gamer Harry Armstrong kicked two goals in the second half.
Wingman Sam Banks will miss the Saints clash with concussion after a head clash against the Power.
Carlton is confident Harry McKay will be fit to take on the Western Bulldogs on Friday night after pulling up sick on game morning and missing the clash against Hawthorn.
Charlie Curnow looked short of a gallop but was not injured as he made his return from knee surgery and was roundly beaten by Hawthorn defender Josh Battle.
SMITH’S LATE OUT NOT A CAUSE FOR ALARM
— Jay Clark
Bailey Smith pulled up with a sore calf after his excellent debut performance in the demolition job over Fremantle in round 1, but the Cats believe it is not a significant injury that will keep him out for an extended period.
Geelong will take a cautious approach in the belief he will miss only one game with the calf soreness.
The Cats at this stage are preparing for him to play next week against Brisbane in the game at the Gabba.
It was initially set for the season opener but was rescheduled to round 3 due to Cyclone Alfred.
The Cats’ high performance team had a strong view it is better for Smith to have the week off and not risk a more significant injury as they look to go deep into finals again this year.
His spot in the team could be taken by hard nut Ted Clohesy or veteran playmaker Mitch Duncan.
Clohesy’s hardness around the ball could be prioritised over the elite ball use by Duncan.
Ruck Rhys Stanley is the other emergency for the game.
Reef McInnes left the field following this incident.#AFLDogsPiespic.twitter.com/bf9XRowH89
— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2025
PIES FEAR WORST AS MCINNES HEADS FOR SCANS
— Josh Barnes
Collingwood confirmed on Saturday that Reef McInnes has suffered an ACL injury.
The Pies have listed the 22-year-old as out indefinitely.
“We are incredibly disappointed for Reef,” Magpies footy boss Charlie Gardiner said.
“He had an enormous summer and showed some really strong form in the pre-season and opening rounds of the season in a new defensive role.”
A former forward, McInnes was just starting to forge a partnership with Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe in defence before the cruel blow.
McInnes signed a one-year deal late last year to stay at Collingwood and has played 23 games across five seasons.
“It’s devastating for the young man and his family and all of us, we put a lot of trust and hope in Reef that it was going to be a good season for him,” Pies coach Craig McRae said on Friday night.
The Pies will have to re-jig their defensive set-up but should have dasher Oleg Markov (calf) available to return after next weekend’s bye, if needed.
Ball magnet Tom Mitchell is hopeful of a return soon after the bye, with an ankle twinge his latest setback.
But the veteran is certain he is past foot issues that plagued his 2024 season.
Jordan De Goey got through his first game of the season on Friday night without any issue after an interrupted pre-season.
LORD HURT IN SANFL TRIAL MATCH
— Simeon Thomas-Wilson
Port Adelaide key forward Ollie Lord will undergo scans on his shoulder after he injured it in a SANFL trial game.
Lord fell on his shoulder early on in the Magpies’ trial game against West Adelaide on Saturday.
He was removed from the game and had his arm put in a sling.
While the Power are hopeful it isn’t a serious injury, it has to wait for Lord to get in for a scan to learn the extent of the injury.
He is facing at least a week on the sidelines, which has come at a terrible time for the 23-year-old.
Lord was not selected for the Power’s Round 1 side against Collingwood and despite that heavy loss he was not called into Ken Hinkley’s side for its clash against Richmond at the Adelaide Oval.
This has piqued the interest of rival clubs, with Melbourne and Geelong two clubs keeping a close eye on the key forward.
Contracted until 2026, Lord was tipped to have more opportunities this season with Charlie Dixon retired and Todd Marshall injured.
But Power assistant Josh Carr said Port wanted to field a smaller forward line and Lord was also “a little bit off in terms of his own form”.
“In previous years he’s been knocking the door down,” Carr said.
“He’s probably a little bit of a product of those pre-season injuries (to Ivan Soldo and Dante Visentini) because in the pre-season games, he played in the ruck a lot.“We’re just trying to give him his best chance now to go forward at the Maggies (SANFL) and get his form up so that when he comes into the AFL team, he comes in with confidence.”
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