Paddy Ryder and Max Gawn battle a highlight of Power v Demons

Max Gawn’s battle in the ruck with Paddy Ryder should be a highlight of Port Adelaide’s clash with Melbourne.

Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder, left, shares a laugh with Jared Polec at Power training yesterday. Picture: Sarah Reed

The victor in an enticing individual battle at Adelaide Oval tonight will prove pivotal to deciding the intriguing clash between Melbourne and Port Adelaide, according to Power coach Ken Hinkley.

Barring any major surprise, the All-Australian ruckmen for the past two seasons, Max Gawn and Paddy Ryder, will square up at the opening bounce and then go head-to-head from then on.

Despite their status as two of the premier ruckmen in the league, it is rare for them to match-up, hence Hinkley’s interest.

When quizzed as to how Port Adelaide halt the dynamic Gawn, Hinkley responded: “We raise them a Paddy Ryder.”

Only once before have Gawn, 26, and 30-year-old Ryder opposed each other as the lead ruckmen in a clash, that was last July in Melbourne.

Ryder, 30, had the upper hand in the ruck but Melbourne ended up with the win, which contradicts Hinkley’s assertion regarding ­tonight’s match. They also met in 2011 when, with Gawn on debut and Ryder representing Essendon, they served as junior ruckmen to David Hille and Stefan Martin respectively.

“It is going to be a great battle, isn’t it? They are two outstanding rucks,” Hinkley said. “Max is a great player and Paddy is in pretty good nick at the moment, so it is going to be one for people to come along and have a look at.

“If you are coming for something, you would come to watch Max and Paddy go at it, I reckon, and the winner is probably going to have a pretty big impact.”

After an injury-riddled 2017, Gawn’s form this season is arguably superior to his efforts when named an All Australian in 2016.

He is averaging five more hit-outs a game, is gathering more disposals and laying tackles on a more frequent basis, while taking marks and kicking goals at the same rate as 2016.

Ryder has only played seven matches for the Power this season as he manages achilles tendon soreness. While his output is down slightly on the form that earned him national honours last year, he remains a formidable ruckman and his recent performances have been strong.

“Paddy’s managed his achilles since he’s been with us,” Hinkley said. “At times it gets a bit worse, but at the moment it’s in a really good space. I’m keeping my fingers crossed it stays that way but it’s ­always going to be in our minds and it’s always going to be in Paddy’s mind.”

In a quirk, Melbourne are seeking to make club history tonight. The Demons have never won a match interstate on a Friday night.

Both sides have won eight of their 12 matches, though Melbourne’s percentage is vastly ­superior. Hinkley has no doubt about the importance of the match as the two clubs seek to establish their September credentials.

The victor will take the upper hand in both qualifying for the ­finals and the battle to earn a double chance.

“It is a big game, there is no doubt,” he said.

“It is two teams that are both level on points on the ladder, that are both striving to finish as high as we can and both play a pretty similar brand and play a pretty contested brand of football.

“It will be on. It will be a pretty fierce battle, I have no doubt about that, and the team that can hang there for the longest will probably finish in front and we are hopeful that is us.”

Port Adelaide, who received a boost during the week when star midfielder Ollie Wines committed to a long-term deal, have made only one change. Key defender Tom Jonas returns in place of Jack Hombsch and will stand either Tom McDonald or Jesse Hogan.

Former Demon Jack Watts will spend at least another week in the SANFL despite a strong performance last weekend.

Melbourne have recalled midfielder Dom Tyson for his first match since round eight and forward Tim Smith, dropping Cam Pedersen and Charlie Spargo.

Despite a disappointing Queen’s Birthday loss to Collingwood, veteran Jordan Lewis is confident Melbourne can challenge a key rival tonight and is certain the Demons are on “an upward trajectory”.