Port Adelaide track watch: Jack Lukosius highlights versatility, Josh Lai makes his SSP case

Port Adelaide recruit Jack Lukosius has long been adamant he is best used as a forward – but, as we learnt on Friday, Ken Hinkley might have other ideas. Get all the latest match sim intel.

Jack Lukosius wants to be a forward.

But the boom Port Adelaide recruit’s versatility was on show during an intense match-sim session at Alberton on Friday as a train-on player boosted his chances of winning a contract with the Power.

At previous club Gold Coast, Lukosius was used both in attack and in defence by the Suns but he has been steadfast in his belief that he is best as a forward.

Since he arrived at Alberton in the off-season, all the talk has been around Lukosius playing inside 50 given Charlie Dixon’s retirement and Todd Marshall’s likely season-ending Achilles injury.

And so far on the track over summer, Lukosius has been playing there.

But in match-sim on Friday, the Power showed how it could use Lukosius’ versatility.

Jack Lukosius was used all over the ground on Friday. Picture: Jack Dilks.

And Logan Evans impressed with his run from defence. Picture: Jack Dilks.

While he played as a forward for most of the session, at times the former Sun would start at a centre bounce on the wing and then quickly go behind the ball – the last line of defence – as it appeared the Power trialled some of its plans for certain scenarios during the session.

It was a little reminiscent of the role Power fan favourite Justin Westhoff often played during his career at Alberton.

It was a different sort of match sim for the Power, though.

Close to a full-game length, if it wasn’t, the players were split into two teams, captained by skipper Connor Rozee and his deputy Zak Butters.

In a homage to their junior teams, Rozee’s teal side was called South Augusta, while Butters’ Darley Devils wore black.

Outside of Marshall, Willem Drew, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Kane Farrell, Ivan Soldo and Dante Visentini, it was a full compliment of players hitting the track.

Here’s what stood out from the session...

■ The battle for a spot on the Power’s list as a SSP is between speedster Josh Lai and North Melbourne VFL captain Jack Watkins.

Watkins has impressed in the midfield so far this pre-season, but Lai really caught the eye on Friday.

On numerous occasions, he would burst out of a stoppage or a contest and use his pace to burn his opponent.

The Power are expected to wait a couple of weeks before deciding who gets the spot –- it could also choose to move Marshall to the long-term injury list and open up another slot – but Lai definitely put forward his name after his performance.

■ Draftee Joe Berry had some good moments but left the session early after copping a poke to the eye.

The small forward looked to be in some discomfort after a contest and was holding his head for a while.

He was attended to by trainers and left the field but in good news for the Power and the draftee it was just a poke in the eye, although it was puffy and sore after.

Joe Berry had some moments but left the track early. Picture: Jack Dilks.

■ Midfielder Hugh Jackson started match sim on fire with some strong tackles on Jason Horne-Francis and Miles Bergman.

Jackson has come close to a debut but has had to deal with injury issues in recent years, so he will be hoping for a good run in 2025.

■ The Power had its midfield bulls going at it with Rozee and Horne-Francis up against Butters and Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines.

Butters and Horne-Francis had a bit of afters after a crunching tackle from the vice-captain on the young star.

Horne-Francis probably had the last laugh though, with the former No. 1 pick close to, if not, the best on ground on Friday.

Connor Rozee in action. Picture: Jack Dilks.

■ Ryan Burton took kick ins for Butters’ team, while Rory Atkins took the kick ins for Rozee’s side.

As part of the moves that had Lukosius quickly getting into the backline after a centre bounce, the Power also had Jase Burgoyne drifting back from a wing into defence to bolster numbers.

■ While for the opening three quarters the team’s were quite evenly split, in the final term, the Power did pit what looked to be its strongest attack against its strongest backline.

The forward line had Lukosius, Ollie Lord, Mitch Georgiades, Willie Rioli, Joe Richards and Jed McEntee – with Berry off the field.

In the backline was Aliir Aliir, Esava Ratugolea, Bergman, Josh Sinn, Logan Evans and Burton.

Evans and Sinn, in particular, were very aggressive off half-back.

Originally published as Port Adelaide track watch: Jack Lukosius highlights versatility, Josh Lai makes his SSP case