Power Carnage
Captain Connor Rozee, defender Aliir Aliir and forward Sam Powell-Pepper all suffered game-ending injuries in Port Adelaide’s Friday night of carnage against St Kilda.
Aliir will miss next Thursday’s Showdown against Adelaide after being dump-tackled by Saints forward Jack Higgins, who faces a stint on the sidelines courtesy of the match review officer.
Higgins pinned Aliir’s left arm and forced him to ground, the Power backman’s head slamming into the turf midway through the second quarter as he attempted to kick the ball, leaving him concussed and substituted out at half-time.
Then early in the third term, Powell-Pepper landed awkwardly while attempting a mark in attack before clutching his right knee in obvious pain and hobbling off in the hands of trainers.
The worst was to come when Rozee pulled up short on the members’ wing and immediately reached for his right hamstring.
The skipper came back on briefly but was clearly inhibited and had the hamstring iced at three-quarter-time.
Houston’s rocket
Port’s superboot Dan Houston launched a 70m torp on the run from the middle of the ground, which landed in the lap of Willie Rioli, who slipped over, recovered, turned Liam Stocker and Nasiah Wanganeen-Miler inside-out and snapped truly deep into the second period to put the Power in front. It was sheer brilliance from both men. A magic moment.
Houston’s expert intercepting and pristine ball use behind the footy hurt the Saints as much as Willem Drew’s typically hard-hatted display in the middle.
Undermanned Port won the clearances with Drew leading that charge, stepping up in Rozee’s injury-enforced absence to take out the Peter Badcoe VC Medal.
Marshall knee scare
St Kilda’s worst fears were alleviated when gun ruckman Rowan Marshall played out the match after an early knee scare.
Marshall was forced to the bench in the opening minutes and was in some discomfort while he had the outside of his left knee attended to.
The big fella looked slightly proppy on his immediate return to the field before finding his way back into the game and forcing a virtual dead-heat in ruck against Power opponent Jordon Sweet.
The loss of their No.1 ruckman would have added devastating injury to insult for the sagging Saints, who were brave but ultimately outclassed, unable to capitalise on Port’s errant goalkicking as they slumped to 2-5.