AFL Finals 2023: Charlie Dixon re-signs and all the latest Port Adelaide news ahead of the qualifying final against Brisbane

Charlie Dixon has agreed on a new deal with Port Adelaide, keeping him around at Alberton for a while longer yet. But will he be there on Saturday? Here’s the latest.

Port Adelaide spearhead Charlie Dixon will miss the Power’s qualifying final against Brisbane.

The 32-year-old, who has been out with a foot injury since early August, signed a new one-year deal on Monday.

He has missed the Power’s past four games and returned to running on an Alt G treadmill over the weekend and on Monday did some kicking and marking drills.

But Saturday’s clash is going to be too soon for the key forward, who is expected to return to action should the Power win and make the preliminary final.

While he is considered to be at least a week away Dixon could be a chance of returning for the Power if they are forced into a semi final next week.

Young key forward Mitch Georgiades has also signed a four-year extension.

Georgiades is out for the season with an ACL injury.

In the Power’s announcement, Dixon said he was happy to be locked in for 2024.

“I have always said I’ll keep playing footy as long as I am able to do what I can to help the team, and I’ve still got the passion to be out there with the boys,” Dixon said.

“I love this club and I’m excited to stick around and see what we can achieve together as a group.”

Charlie Dixon will play on in 2024. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

Georgiades, 21, is hoping he can be a key part of the group when he returns from his injury.

While there was plenty of speculation that interstate clubs were trying to lure him away from Alberton, Georgiades said he was excited to remain at the Power.

“It is amazing for the club to have that much faith in me for the next four years. I’m keen to lock in and do as much as I can and play as well as I can,” he said.

“Obviously it was not the year I envisioned but this is a great way to finish the year for me and to go into the off-season.

“It was sort about where was best for me to play footy and when you look at this group, the youth and the players we have here it is pretty hard for me to leave some of my best mates behind and when it came down to where to play my best footy it was here.

“This year was a bit different with my knee, I just decided to take a bit longer and the club was great. They were in no rush and they were awesome with putting no pressure on me.

“For me it was about putting all the facts on the table, where was the best place for me to play footy.”

Georgiades said he was hoping to resume running in the next two to three weeks.

And while he was out of the Power side when the knee injury occurred, he wasn’t giving too much thought yet about how he would break back into Ken Hinkley’s plans.

“Knee is tracking well, had a couple of hiccups early on but definitely on the right track now and should be running in the next two or three weeks which will be nice going into the off-season,” he said.

“For me it is about looking to run at this stage and get stronger in the gym.

That is probably looking a bit too far ahead (returning to the team), I’ve just been focusing on walking again and running again.

“I will focus on that bridge when I get there.”

Power’s relief as daunting Gabba trip gets huge boost

Port Adelaide have received a big boost as it prepares for its daunting qualifying final away at Brisbane with ruckman Scott Lycett impressing in the SANFL elimination final.

But it is looking increasingly likely that spearhead Charlie Dixon won’t be fit to take on the Lions at the Gabba on Saturday.

Lycett hasn’t played for the Power at AFL level since Round 19 when a decision was made to send him in for surgery on a persistent knee injury he had been battling.

The 30-year-old No. 1 ruckman for Port Adelaide made a return to football in the Magpies’ final home and away game of the SANFL season against Central District last week, playing around 60 per cent of game time and mostly as a forward.

On Sunday in the Magpies’ elimination final at Adelaide Oval against the same opponents Lycett was back into the ruck and dominated for Port Adelaide, although the Magpies’ season was ended as they went down by seven-points.

Port’s SANFL coach Tyson Goldsack said before the game Lycett would be around the ball a lot more and the big man ended up dominating the ruck contest in the Magpies’ with 35 hit-outs, 11 disposals, a goal and three tackles.

Scott Lycett looks set to be ready for Port’s first final. (SANFL Image/David Mariuz)

He also kicked a huge 50m goal after the siren in the third quarter.

Lycett’s performance shapes as a huge boost for the Power ahead of its daunting trip to the Gabba to take on the Lions.

With his injury issues this year the Power have again had its ruck stocks tested.

Lycett has played the 12 games at AFL level, while Sam Hayes and Brynn Teakle have played four games and Dante Visentini three.

Against Richmond last time out the Power subbed out Hayes in the third quarter after he was soundly beaten by the Tigers ruck duo of Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo.

Jeremy Finlayson was thrown into the ruck, with Ollie Wines chopping him out.

An increasingly likely Lycett return is set to add to two other big additions for the Power when it takes on the Lions.

Charlie Dixon’s place in the team continues to be a mystery. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Trent McKenzie has returned to running and is pushing his case after a PCL injury suffered against Geelong in Round 21, while Todd Marshall is expected to play against the Lions after he missed the win over Richmond.

But Dixon looks likely to miss with the spearhead still not doing a lot after his injured foot was taken out of the protective boot.

Orazio Fantasia gave the Power coaching staff something to think about with four goals from eight disposals on Sunday.

Power senior coach Ken Hinkley did hint that the injury plagued small forward could loom as a finals x-factor and in the state league he showed how damaging he could be with his haul, three of them coming in a devastating second-quarter burst.

Originally published as AFL Finals 2023: Charlie Dixon re-signs and all the latest Port Adelaide news ahead of the qualifying final against Brisbane