Port Adelaide pre-season training: New Power forward line taking shape

How Port Adelaide’s forward line will line up without Todd Marshall is becoming clearer, while Sam Powell-Pepper has taken a massive step forward in his recovery.

Fan favourite Sam Powell-Pepper took a massive step in his return from an ACL injury, while Port Adelaide’s forward line in the wake of Todd Marshall’s ruptured Achilles began to take shape.

Powell-Pepper took part in match sim for the first time this pre-season at Alberton on Friday.

Wearing a pink non-contact hat, Powell-Pepper was largely on a wing as he comes back from the knee injury that wiped out his 2024 campaign.

Powell-Pepper after injuring his knee last year. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But it was a massive step for the Power forward’s chances of playing in Round 1 against Collingwood.

While he is still to come back into the forward line, the Power’s attack is taking shape in the wake of Marshall suffering his Achilles injury on Monday – which could rule him out for the season.

Marshall was watching on at Alberton on Friday after having surgery on Wednesday.

Todd Marshall watching Port Adelaide training after having surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles. Credit: PAFC

During aspects of the match simulation Port Adelaide opted to play Jeremy Finlayson, Mitch Georgiades and Jack Lukosius in attack together, while Ollie Lord was rucking against Jordon Sweet.

Finlayson and Lord swapped when the Power pitted its strongest attack and defence against each other, with Finlayson going around the ball.

Also in the Power’s strongest forward line was draftee Joe Berry, who continues to push for a Round 1 spot as a small forward.

After the late season experiment the Power resisted throwing Esava Ratugolea forward again on Friday during match sim.

He was with Aliir Aliir and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher in the stronger backline on Friday.

While Kane Farrell, Ryan Burton, Miles Bergman and Josh Sinn were on the sidelines Dylan Williams continued to put his hand up as a potential replacement for the departed Dan Houston at half-back.

Originally published as Port Adelaide pre-season training: New Power forward line taking shape