Ryder walks fine line on management of achilles injury

Paddy Ryder is nursing a troublesome achilles injury to ensure his presence on match day.

Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder holds the Sir Douglas Nicholls Indigenous Round guernsey at Alberton yesterday. Picture: AAP.

Port Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder has given a worrisome ­account of the balancing act he goes through weekly when nursing an achilles injury to ensure his presence on match day.

The All Australian ruckman is arguably the Power’s most important player, given the club’s lack of an obvious alternative should Ryder be absent, as he was for five weeks earlier this year.

Port Adelaide were able to get through that period reasonably well, claiming three wins from five matches including victories over current top-eight sides Sydney and North Melbourne.

But it is certain their challenge for a second premiership will be significantly dented should Ryder experience further difficulties with the lingering problem.

The 30-year-old yesterday said that for him to heal completely, a “decent break” was required, but he was well aware that he was “not going to be able to get that during the season”.

Therefore, significant dedication is required to his rehabilitation after each match, as well as extensive consultation with Port Adelaide’s physiotherapists and strength and condition staff.

Ryder is training only once a week out on the ground as a result.

“That’s the big session that the guys build me up for. We get a lot of load in that session,” he said.

“The rest of the time is getting ready for the game. After a game, that’s cooling it down and making sure it hasn’t got any worse.

“I probably need a decent break for it to be able to come good, but I’m not going to be able to get that during the season.

“The stuff we have got in place is working pretty well.”

Ryder struggled first up after a break against the West Coast combination of Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett, but that is scarcely a surprise given the form of the Eagles pair.

But the former Bomber ­performed well in the Showdown victory over Adelaide and the win over the Suns in Shanghai, ­notching 81 hit outs in those two successes.

It is clear, though, that the problem is having an impact on his ability to be as influential at ground level.

Ryder is averaging eight disposals a game this year, which is lower than any other season aside from his first at Essendon.

Port Adelaide’s reigning best and fairest resumes after the bye in an intriguing clash against Hawthorn in Launceston. A victory is critical for both sides as they seek to regain a spot in the eight.

The Power sit in ninth position, one win behind third-placed Melbourne and have a game in hand.

Hawthorn have slipped from the eight after successive losses to Sydney, Brisbane and West Coast and will be desperate to clinch a win to remain in touch with the eight.

And this is where Ryder’s fitness will be tested again. It’s possible Hawthorn will opt to mirror West Coast’s move by partnering Ben McEvoy with Jon Ceglar.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was encouraged by the pair’s effort against the West Coast combination of Naitanui and ­Lycett on Sunday.

Ceglar kicked a goal in his first game since injuring a knee against the Eagles in Perth in 2016 and while the West Coast duo had 52 hit-outs to 34, Hawthorn ­reduced their dominance in the centre.

Clarkson said: “That combination was working quite well for us before he went down with a knee and we have been pinch-hitting with a second ruck.

“We want to explore how that works for us. We are not sure how it is going to unfold. It is working really well for West Coast.

“But I hope it would (work), because both Ceglar and McEvoy have got the skill set to do some damage both forward and in the ruck for us.”