Port Adelaide weigh up bringing Charlie Dixon straight back into its side after he served his SANFL ban

Port Adelaide key forward Charlie Dixon hasn’t played any footy in three weeks. But with Mitch Georgiades suspended, could he return for the Power’s crunch clash against Gold Coast?

Port Adelaide forwards coach Chad Cornes says Charlie Dixon is a chance of coming into the Power’s side for its crunch clash against Gold Coast despite not playing any matches for three weeks.

The Power will need to make one change to the side that impressively beat the Western Bulldogs on Saturday with in-form forward Mitch Georgiades to serve a one-match ban for striking Nick Coffield.

“I think it is pretty clear when you do one of those off the ball incidents I’m not sure there is an argument for him,” Cornes said.

“Disappointing with the form he has been in, he has been a real highlight for us this season so he will be a big loss.”

With Cornes enjoying how a four-tall forward attack was faring for the Power, this does open the door for Dixon to make a return to the side after he was hit with a three match ban for a bump in the SANFL.

Dixon was suspended for a bump in the SANFL against West Adelaide. (SANFL Image/David Mariuz.

The 33-year-old has used the time off from matches to focus on losing weight, dropping five kilos in two weeks as a result of a new fasting diet.

Cornes said Dixon was looking in good shape.

“There is obviously an opening, Charlie has trained really, really well over the past three weeks,” Cornes said.

“His body looks to be in really good condition, he has dropped a bit of weight, he is moving really well.

“So that will be a discussion for match committee later on the week, but yeah he is a chance.

“He has been in really good spirits around the place, training really well, his body looks great so he has had that opportunity for three weeks to work really hard in the gym and on the track.

“So he will be an option for us.”

The big Power forward has dropped five kilos in a bid to get back into Port’s senior side. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The Power come into the game on a high after the win over the Dogs, which came after pressure ramped on the club after three loses in a row.

Cornes said he thought the Power’s connection, with captain Connor Rozee’s meetings during the week key, was impressive.

“It didn’t feel like it was a win against St Kilda (the previous week), it was a great win that we needed. But as we built into the week I thought the connection side of things was a big focus for us – playing really connected footy,” he said.

“Connor led the way with some of the meetings he conducted with the group early on in the week and I thought it was the best we showed our sort of spirit and the way we got around each other after good team acts and celebrated goals together.

“It looked like a really connected team playing for each other which was great.”

The Suns might have gone down to North Melbourne in their last game but have not lost at People First Stadium so far in 2024.

Cornes said it would be a tough test for the Power.

“They are really strong at home. Dimma (Damien Hardwick) was fired up post game, so I expect a real response from them,” he said.

“Their defence is really good, one of the best intercepting defences in the AFL.

“So we will have our work cut out for us, but if we bring that spirit you always have a chance.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide weigh up bringing Charlie Dixon straight back into its side after he served his SANFL ban