Charlie Dixon, Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Broadbent on the mend as Power heads to Queensland

The Power is off to Queensland for a training camp and it is three of the club’s senior players who are exciting Port Adelaide’s coaching staff with their return from injury.

• No hangover for Lycett’s happy homecoming at Alberton
• Darren Cahill joins Port Adelaide board
• Hartlett ready for Round 1

Charlie Dixon, Hamish Hartlett and Matthew Broadbent have lifted the spirits of the side with their return from injury as Port Adelaide players and staff jetted off to Noosa on Wednesday morning for a pre-season camp.

Hartlett is recovering from a knee reconstruction after he blew out his knee in training after Round 5 last year while Broadbent didn’t play any games last season, having undergone two operations to his ankle and then suffering a stress fracture in his foot and Dixon suffered a broken leg late in the 2018 AFL season.

But club fitness coach Ian McKeown said both Harltett and Broadbent been impressive in training and would be watched closely as the Power mix some hard training on the Sunshine Coast with a bit of down time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Dixon is expected to resume running on the pre-season camp.

Port Adelaide’s Hamish Hartlett riding the stationary bike as he rehabilitates from a right knee reconstruction. Picture: Dylan Coker

McKeown could not speak more highly of Hartlett’s dedication during his recovery.

“He’s been fantastic through his rehab and at this stage we’re just trying to hold him back,” McKeown said on SEN radio.

“We’re just trying to make sure he ticks off absolutely every box as he gets closer to Round 1.”

Broadbent, a 161-gamer, had been similarly impressive.

“He’s back into drills now as well,” McKeown said. “After such a long time off he’s been very exciting.

“He’s still got that grace and extra second with the ball.”

Dixon suffered his lower leg injury in the Power’s Round 21 clash with West Coast, collapsing after landing awkwardly in a marking contest.

“Charlie’s itching to run,” McKeown said.

“He’s itching to get back and he’ll run over the camp.

“The plan is to get him into plenty (of fitness work) so when we get back after Christmas he’ll be doing plenty of volume. We’re getting closer.”

Port Adelaide's Charlie Dixon has a short jog during pre-season training at Alberton Oval last month. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Port Adelaide will be in Noosa for six days on its training camp and be hosted by the Noosa Tigers Football Club.

McKeown said the camp would not only give the players a chance to finish off their training before Christmas but also to get to know each other better.

“It’s only six days be we’ve got the chance to get plenty in,” he said. “We’ll train hard, like we would if we were home, and we’ll have some half days off.”

Originally published as Charlie Dixon, Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Broadbent on the mend as Power heads to Queensland