Showdown 54 Adelaide v Port Adelaide: All the latest news as key Power trio miss training

Troy and Shane Bond have made it known they are happy for the Showdown trophy to be presented on Saturday night. But after their legal threat, what will the clubs do?

• How Showdown 54 will be won
• McAdam, Rozee open up on rivalry

The Showdown Trophy featuring the iconic photo of the Bond brothers could be a no show at Saturday night’s Adelaide-Port Adelaide blockbuster derby amid an image rights legal battle.

The Crows and Power are considering not presenting the Showdown trophy after the brothers threatened court action over the unauthorised use of their image on the Showdown Trophy, Showdown Medal and match promotion material.

The clubs are working on a potential alternative award that does not carry the image of the Bond brothers.

But as of Friday night, it was still unclear what trophy would be presented to the winner of Showdown 54.

Former Crow Troy Bond and his brother, former Port player Shane, have made it known through their lawyers that they are happy for the trophy to be presented on Saturday night ahead of a meeting scheduled for next week aimed at resolving the image rights dispute.

The famous image of Troy and Shane was taken after Showdown 2 in August 1997 and captures the brothers arm-in-arm walking off Football Park in pouring rain after a narrow Adelaide win.

The Crows and Power are working on a potential alternative to the Showdown trophy for Saturday night. Picture: Emma Brasier

The Crows and Port have tried to minimise the use of the image in the lead up to Showdown 54 with the trophy absent from media conferences.

Crows senior coach Matthew Nicks and Power supremo Ken Hinkley said they hoped the Showdown Trophy would return.

“The challenge is that it is a great rivalry this game and it has some great things, (such as) Variety behind us, that are great reasons to play this game and the trophy is part of that,” Hinkley said.

“But ultimately the clubs, and I know the clubs are working really closely together and with the people involved.

“Hopefully we do have a shield back at some point.

“Both Matthew and I are working day-to-day to try and get our footy teams to play well

I’m not over exactly everything that is going on but ultimately I hope common sense prevails for a really worthy cause and we end up back with the shield.”

The photo of Shane Bond and Troy Bond in Showdown 2.

Nicks said he “couldn’t have said it any better”.

Top South Australian lawyer Greg Griffin wrote to both clubs earlier this month seeking a meeting to discuss “our clients’ claim in relation to the use of their likenesses for promotional purposes”.

Mr Griffin says the Bond brothers did not authorise the Crows, Power or charity partner Variety SA to use their image and only became aware of the move days before the introduction of a revamped Showdown Shield in 2018.

The two players are seeking a formal agreement and payment for past and ongoing use of their image rights.

The Crows and Power will meet with the brothers after Saturday night’s Showdown.

Power trio miss training as illness hits Alberton

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says a number of his players missing the captain’s run a day out from the Showdown with illness is just a precaution.

Vice-captain Ollie Wines, gun defender Dan Houston and barometer Sam Powell-Pepper all missed the Power’s final training session at Alberton Oval on Friday.

Travis Boak, who will be the tactical sub for Hinkley’s side, was also absent from training.

Hinkley said there was nothing to worry about ahead of the clash against Adelaide on Saturday night.

“Not really, we did have a couple away,” he said.

“I spoke to the boys this morning on the way in and they are OK.

“It is that time of year any sniffle we just keep them away.”

The Power announced on Thursday night Boak would be the tactical sub against the Crows.

Hinkley said he was comfortable with leaving Boak, a three-time Showdown Medal winner, on the bench and did say that form came into the equation.

Sam Powell-Pepper and Dan Houston missed Port Adelaide’s captain’s run on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

“We are comfortable that Trav is a really good sub for us and it is around managing his season and his load,” he said.

“He is not getting any younger but he is still pretty important for us.

“Certainly a part of it is form, we’ve always had strong selection integrity and we want it to remain that way.

“But Trav as much as anything it is about managing him and giving him the chance to get his form back to the highest level that he has had it in the past, which is remarkably strong.”

Along with Boak coming out of the 22, the Power have also managed Scott Lycett as he battles a knee injury.

Hinkley said the Power needed to weigh up Lycett’s availability for the rest of the season.

“We made the decision for Scott with his knee management,” he said.

“We are very mindful that we hopefully have a bit more of this season to play out and we will need Scott for that as much as we can.

“And we know that we can’t push him through every session and every game because then we will probably lose him.”

Stand-in captain Ollie Wines was also absent. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Dante Visentini comes in for his second AFL game, meaning the Power will go into the clash with a far younger on-ball brigade than the Crows.

“If you look at age we are about five years younger than the Crows mids but that is a challenge we are happy to take on,” Hinkley said.

While the Crows need a win to keep their finals chances alive, the Power need a victory to keep third-placed Brisbane at bay.

Hinkley said it did add an extra dimension to the rivalry.

“I think we are both chasing our own seasons in different ways, there is some reality to that we can’t deny that we need to keep winning,” he said.

“Right now we are right in the heart of trying to qualify as high as we can and the Crows are the same, they are right in the heart of trying to play finals as every side sets out to do at the start of the year.

“I get it and understand it, it is a Showdown and we have big games regardless but this is big for both teams in terms of the current positions for both teams.”

Originally published as Showdown 54 Adelaide v Port Adelaide: All the latest news as key Power trio miss training