AFL 2023: Check out the full Crows and Power teams for Round 21
It’s been a tough week for Port Adelaide – and the news isn’t getting any better with Scott Lycett set for surgery and Charlie Dixon unlikely to play. Here’s the latest.
Port Adelaide has been hit again, this time on the injury front, with ruckman Scott Lycett to undergo knee surgery and key duo Charlie Dixon and Kane Farrell ruled out of this weekend’s trip to Geelong.
Dixon hurt his foot at training on Thursday while Farrell has come down with an illness.
The Power is confident that Dixon will only miss one match.
Ollie Lord and Francis Evans come into the 22 in place of the pair, with Jase Burgoyne and Hugh Jackson added to Port’s emergencies.
Lycett missed the loss to fierce rivals Adelaide in the Showdown, as he dealt with knee soreness and wasn’t named on Thursday night.
Port Adelaide head of football Chris Davies suggested on Friday morning Lycett could need surgery to deal with his knee soreness, before it was confirmed shortly after.
“We have to make an assessment if we want to push him or look at other alternatives,” he said.
“I think the reality is on the basis of him missing this game we might have to look at what the other alternatives are.”
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE PORT AND CROWS TEAMS FOR ROUND 21
The Power later announced that Lycett would have surgery to clean out the meniscus in his left knee.
The club said a timeline for his return would be confirmed in the coming days.
It comes as Davies revealed that spearhead Charlie Dixon and defender Kane Farrell were unlikely to take on the Cats.
Dixon hurt his ankle at training on Thursday and after a long conversation with medical staff he was later named by the Power.
But Davies said Dixon was unlikely to take on the Cats.
“I think Charlie is unlikely to play, if he is out it will just be this week,” he said.
“At this stage Charlie is unlikely to play and at this stage Kane Farrell is unlikely to travel
he developed an illness overnight.”
Young gun Miles Bergman will play after battling groin soreness all week.
As will key forward Todd Marshall, who was restricted to the exercise bike at training on Thursday.
Power skipper’s reprieve, Crows to blood young defender
Despite kicking four goals in the Showdown Francis Evans has been omitted from Port Adelaide’s 22 for the Power’s clash against former club Geelong while No. 1 ruck Scott Lycett continues to miss.
Evans was one of the Power’s few bright spots in its heavy loss to Adelaide last week.
But he has dropped out of the Power’s 22 to take on former club the Cats in Geelong as Ken Hinkley’s side looks to stop a three-match losing streak.
Evans could be the tactical sub for the Power, after he was named as an emergency.
Captain Tom Jonas and livewire small forward Willie Rioli come in for the Power for the clash against the Cats.
Jonas replaces Aliir Aliir, who along with Lachie Jones was placed in the AFL’s concussion protocols after their heavy head clash in the Showdown.
Power star Travis Boak, who started as the sub last week, has been elevated into the Power’s 22.
Lycett again misses for the Power despite training at Alberton on Thursday.
It means Dante Visentini will again shoulder the ruck burden for the Power.
Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall have been both named by the Power.
Dixon pulled up sore and was in deep conversation with Hinkley and medical staff while Marshall was restricted to training with the rehab group and then on an exercise bike as he deals with some soreness.
Riley Bonner, Ollie Lord and Jackson Mead are also in line to be the Power’s tactical sub.
Over at West Lakes, James Borlase will debut for the Crows while young gun Josh Rachele returns after a two-match suspension.
The Crows confirmed on Tuesday that Borlase would debut after Jordon Butts’ foot injury.
Adelaide Head of Football Adam Kelly said the 21-year-old was deserving of his opportunity at the highest level.
“James has improved his game each and every year that he has been on our list and in doing so established himself as one of the best defenders in the SANFL competition,” Kelly said.
“He deserves this opportunity and we are excited to see how he will perform at AFL level.
“In recent weeks we have seen strong SANFL form carry over to the AFL, by way of (Harry) Schoenberg, (Matt) Crouch, (Luke) Nankervis and (Mark) Keane, which is a credit to our SANFL program and to the squad mentality that has permeated the playing group.”
Luke Pedlar has been managed, while former captain Rory Sloane will again be the tactical sub for the Crows.
“Given the strong performance of our midfield group last week and Sloaney’s ability to impact the game in the second half, we will again play Rory as the sub this week,” Kelly said.
“Managing players through a season comes in various forms and in Sloaney’s instance it has been by way of reduced minutes and variation in roles, which has resulted in him playing every game in the season.
“It’s a credit to Rory that he has been able to do this following an ACL rupture and we hope this gives him the opportunity to continue to impact games but also to finish the year strong.”
ADELAIDE CROWS v GOLD COAST SUNS
Saturday August 5, 2.10pm at Adelaide Oval
CROWS
B: B.Smith, J.Borlase, M.Keane
HB: M.Michalanney, J.Worrell, W.Milera
C: C.Jones, J.Dawson – C, M.Hinge
HF: B.Keays, D.Fogarty, S.McAdam
F: J.Rachele, T.Walker, H.Schoenberg
FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Laird, M.Crouch
I/C: R.Thilthorpe, J.Soligo, L.Murphy, L.Nankervis
EMG: R.Sloane, S.Berry, E.Himmelberg, N.McHenry
IN: J.Borlase, J.Rachele
OUT: L.Pedlar (Managed), R.Sloane (Sub), J.Butts (Injured)
SUNS
B: C.Ballard, S.Collins, M.Andrew
HB: B.Ellis, R.Atkins, S.Lemmens
C: W.Powell, S.Flanders, B.Ainsworth
HF: B.Humphrey, J.Lukosius, D.Swallow
F: N.Holman, B.King, L.Casboult
FOLL: J.Witts – C, M.Rowell, N.Anderson
I/C: J.Farrar, E.Hollands, D.Macpherson, M.Rosas
EMG: S.Day, B.Long, J.Sharp, J.Tsitas
IN: None
OUT: T.Miller (Suspension)
GEELONG CATS v PORT ADELAIDE
Saturday August 5, 7.25pm at GMHBA Stadium
CATS
B: J.Kolodjashnij, E.Ratugolea, J.Henry
HB: Z.Guthrie, S.De Koning, T.Stewart
C: M.Duncan, T.Bruhn, I.Smith
HF: G.Miers, O.Henry, T.Stengle
F: G.Rohan, J.Cameron, B.Close
FOLL: R.Stanley, P.Dangerfield – C, T.Atkins
I/C: J.Bowes, M.O’Connor, M.Holmes, Z.Tuohy
EMG: J.Bews, S.Neale, S.Menegola, B.Parfitt
IN: E.Ratugolea
OUT: M.Blicavs (Injured), T.Hawkins (Injured)
POWER
B: D.Williams, T.McKenzie, D.Houston
HB: K.Farrell, T.Jonas – C, R.Burton
C: M.Bergman, W.Drew, X.Duursma
HF: Z.Butters, T.Marshall, J.McEntee
F: D.Byrne-Jones, C.Dixon, S.Powell-Pepper
FOLL: D.Visentini, O.Wines, C.Rozee
I/C: T.Boak, J.Finlayson, J.Horne-Francis, W.Rioli
EMG: F.Evans, O.Lord, J.Mead, R.Bonner
IN: T.Jonas, W.Rioli
OUT: A.Aliir (Injured), L.Jones (Injured), F.Evans (Omitted)
Rankine surprise boosts Crows’ finals bid
Star small forward Izak Rankine could return for Adelaide next week, as the Crows announced that James Borlase would debut on Saturday against Gold Coast.
Rankine hurt his hamstring in Round 19 and the Crows originally gave him a three to four week timetable on the sidelines.
But the star small forward could return earlier with the Crows saying he might just miss the two matches.
This would mean he returns for the Crows clash against Brisbane at the Gabba next week.
“Izak is doing well, he’s had a couple of on-ground running sessions already and we are hoping that he will be available for the Brisbane game all going well between now and then,” Crows high performance boss Darren Burgess said.
While it is good news for Rankine, it was the worst possible news for key defender Jordon Butts on the injury front.
Butts was subbed out of the Crows Showdown win over Port Adelaide before halftime with a suspected foot fracture. Burgess said scans confirmed this and Butts had surgery to get his fifth metatarsal fixed.
“Generally (with an injury like this) they return to play around that three-month period so his off-season running program will be adjusted slightly, otherwise he will be involved in a full pre-season and come back bigger and better than ever I’m sure,” Burgess said.
Fellow key defender Nick Murray has also had surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament he ruptured against Melbourne in Round 19.
“Muz had his surgery last week and it all went well, he’s in a period of off legs as well, he can’t do much for the next couple of weeks and after that he will come into the club and start to move around and get his rehab up and going,” Burgess said.
It leaves the Crows short when it comes to key defenders, with Borlase to come into the side to take on the Suns.
Adelaide senior coach Matthew Nicks announced Borlase’s debut to the playing group at a meeting on Tuesday morning.
Borlase, who stands at 192cm, has been on the Crows’ list for three seasons after being drafted as a Category B rookie in 2020.
The 21-year-old’s father, Darryl, played 246 games and in four premierships for Port Adelaide in the SANFL, while his mother, Jenny, represented Australia in international netball.
This season he has played 14 games for Adelaide in the SANFL where he has averaged 13.6 disposals and six marks per game.
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