AFL round 7: Port Adelaide loses captain Connor Rozee, Aliir Aliir, Sam Powell-Pepper to injury against St Kilda

Port Adelaide’s Showdown preparations are in disarray after losing three key players to injury in a bruising win over St Kilda. MATT TURNER analyses what the Power does next.

Port Adelaide will happily take the points after a gritty win on a scrappy night.

But it is suddenly the walking wounded heading into a short turnaround for the Showdown.

In a week first-choice ruckman Ivan Soldo was sidelined for a month with a knee issue, the Power lost three important players in the 10-point home win against St Kilda — captain Connor Rozee to a hamstring problem, its best key defender Aliir Aliir to concussion and barometer Sam Powell-Pepper to a knee injury in the third term.

Aliir will enter the 12-day protocols, ruling him out of the first prime time stand-alone game against the Crows.

Powell-Pepper limped to the change rooms at three-quarter time, looking unlikely to be available next week, while Rozee had ice on his right hamstring in the last term, leaving him in doubt.

Aliir Aliir was concussed. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Connor Rozee heads off with a hamstring issue. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Ken Hinkley would be thrilled at his side’s resilience to prevail despite its injury toll.

Power players were out on their feet late and the team also managed to overcome some horrible inaccuracy, a longstanding issue.

Much of the scrutiny on the Power this week was about its midfield, groundballs and contested possessions after being smashed by Collingwood at the MCG last week.

Sam Powell-Pepper currently getting his knee assessed after this. Hopefully he's okay 🙏 #AFLPowerSaintspic.twitter.com/7mUYSYwIBO

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 26, 2024

But Port’s other achilles heel – goalkicking – reared its head again.

It kicked 1.8 in the first term, wasting a 15-8 inside 50 advantage.

The Power missed its first five set shots.

“It’s contagious now,” Matthew Richardson said on Channel 7 after a wayward early shot.

Port entered the match 17th in the AFL for set-shot accuracy and 15th for overall accuracy (45 per cent).

Jack Higgins gave away a free kick for a dangerous tackle on Aliir Aliir. #AFLPowerSaintspic.twitter.com/lHt34LvNqg

— AFL (@AFL) April 26, 2024

Ken Hinkley’s side was 16th for overall accuracy last season and 13th in 2022.

On Friday night, Georgiades was one of the main culprits for inaccuracy, kicking 1.4.

Todd Marshall and Travis Boak booted 0.2, while Powell-Pepper slotted 1.2.

The Power finished with 11.16.

It left the door ajar all night for St Kilda and the injuries should have slung it open late when it had the fresher legs.

But the Saints could not make their opportunities count, nor get the ball inside 50 often enough.

It finished with seven fewer entries than the Power (53-46) and although the visitors had 14 to 11 in the last term, St Kilda never really looked like winning the match..

Charlie Dixon was a constant threat for the Power. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Ollie Wines and Zak Butters enjoy a late goal which sealed the victory. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Saints also lost contested possessions (139-118) and turned the ball over more often (72-65).

Jordan Lewis said on Fox Footy: “I would have liked to have seen a little more dare from St Kilda in the last quarter. They didn’t give themselves a chance to win.”

Either way, Port admirably held on.

A positive in terms of availability for the Power ahead of Thursday night’s Showdown is forward Jeremy Finlayson, who has served his four-game suspension for making a homophobic slur.

Originally published as AFL round 7: Port Adelaide loses captain Connor Rozee, Aliir Aliir, Sam Powell-Pepper to injury against St Kilda