Round 21 - Port v Sturt @ Alberton

[Dutchy]

Port Adelaide v Sturt
Sunday 25 August – 2.10pm @ Alberton Oval – 5RPH

Port

Retired Crow Graham Johncock could seek further scans on his injured hand after failing to return for Port Adelaide’s clash with Sturt at Envestra Park on Sunday.

Despite being named to play last round, Johncock reported more soreness in the injury which he received against Norwood in Round 18.

‘’It’s worse than what we thought as he hasn’t even been able to get through training,’’ Port football manager Scott Peters revealed.

‘’This week it hasn’t pulled up well. We got a scan done and there was no damage but it’s got no better so we might have to get him rechecked I think.’’

The Magpies could debut 18-year-old Ben Sawford, who has been named on an extended interchange bench with Daniel Kulikowski, Ned Heath and Justin Hoskin who also return to the 23-man squad.

Sawford, 181cm and 75kg, has progressed through the junior ranks at Alberton since relocating from the club’s country zone of Whyalla three years ago.

‘’He has been a very consistent performer,’’ Peters said.

‘’He’s an on-ball, forward type who can run all day and is very good at the stoppages. It would be very good if he can make his debut as we have had a few this year. He’s in the mix.’’

Kulikowski returns from a two-week stint on the sidelines after a bout of concussion while Jake Neade was claimed by the Power.

SA Under-18 forward Luke Reynolds has been sent back to the reserves.

League
F: H. Slattery, Cockshell, S. Gray
HF: Johansen, Thurgood, Newton
C: Watt, AhChee, Rose
HB: L. Slattery, Beard, Kirkwood
B: Raikiwasa, Scanlon, Madden

R: Meiklejohn, Sharrad, Summerton
INT: Brain, Heath, Kulikowski, Sawford, Hoskin
IN: Sawford, Hoskin, Kulikowski, Heath
OUT: Neade (Power), Reynolds

Reserves
F: Heffernan, Cooper, Batty
HF: Nyskohus, Grove, Reynolds
C: Carr, D. Butcher, Coulson
HB: Williams, Haren, Lemmens
B: Davidson, Hales, Graetz

R: Barns, Adams, R. Young
INT: Hawkins

Under-18
F: Northeast, Beioley, Lienert
HF: Adams, Rayner, Mills
C: Karpany, Hamilton, Godfrey
HB: Williams, Phelps, Reed
B: Goldworthy, J. McIntyre, Mahney

R: Ross, T. Gray, T. McIntyre
INT: Foster, Cook, Clarke, Prior

Sturt

Sturt could unveil another debutant after naming strongly-built utility Dylan Matsen to face Port Adelaide at Envestra Park on Sunday.

Matsen, 189cm and 88kg, has been named on a four-man extended interchange bench with Tom Bartlett, Jack Kelly and Tom Johnson, who has recovered from a back ailment.

‘’He’s a pretty strongly-built lad who will play through the midfield and half-forward,’’ Sturt football manager Paul Sandercock said of Matsen, who played in the SA Under-20 side this year.

Crows midfielders Sam Kerridge and Richard Tambling have been called up for AFL action, Kerridge acting as Adelaide’s substitute when Sturt had the bye last weekend.

Under-18 All-Australian James Battersby will captain Pembroke College’s First XVIII on the weekend, forcing him out of the Double Blues’ 22-man squad.

League
F: Smith, Graham, McIntyre
HF: Panozzo, Duldig, Jaensch
C: Calabrese, Hurley, Kane
HB: Crocker, Coad, Harms
B: Page, Hinge, Stephens

R: Kurtze, Greenslade, Crane
INT: Bartlett, Matsen, Johnson, Kelly
IN: Matsen, Bartlett, Calabrese, Johnson, Kelly
OUT: Kerridge (Crows), Battersby (college), Tambling (Crows)

Reserves
Atkins, Atkinson, Boyle, Curnow, Elms, Gilfoy, Hansen, Hunter, Konitzka, Krause, Michael, P. Wilson, Penfold, Rischbieth, Rupcic, Samblich, Vitkunas, Watson, Wundke.

Under-18
F: Carey, Duhne, Bell
HF: Marles, Andruszkiewicz, Watson
C: Hargreaves, Campbell, Coombes
HB: Jarred Archer, Richardson, Klemm
B: Haren, Jonas, Mozuras

R: Feraro, Leake, Home
INT: Voigt, Josh Archer, Hollitt, Gillett, Lynch, Lawrie

[Jim05]

So if the stories are true this will be the last game between these two great rivals
Sad day indeed

[CENTURION]

Sturt by 23 points.

[Booney]

I expect Sturt to be too quick for Port through the midfield and for me to get slaughtered with a couple of mates there and Monday off.

[Seaford Panther]

Double blues by 18

[Jimmy]

What a sad day! I'll be listening in and hoping for the blues to get up.

[therisingblues]

From what I read on the Power reserves thread, Port won't be doing anything that jeopardizes the existence of theagpies in the SANFL. Hopefully this will not be the last clash between these two.

[CUTTERMAN]

Dry weather forecast, Sturt by 28. Shits me that Battersby isn't able to play. SANFL clubs get screwed from every direction. School football! Give me a break.

[RustyCage]

From what I read on the Power reserves thread, Port won't be doing anything that jeopardizes the existence of theagpies in the SANFL. Hopefully this will not be the last clash between these two.

The club has come out today and said it's status quo for next year.

Port by 25

[heater31]

From what I read on the Power reserves thread, Port won't be doing anything that jeopardizes the existence of theagpies in the SANFL. Hopefully this will not be the last clash between these two.

The club has come out today and said it's status quo for next year.

Port by 25

Yeah but S.Trigg said the AFC want 8-0 and look what happened

[RB]

SANFL clubs get screwed from every direction. School football! Give me a break.

Yes. It's a shame that both the GayFL and school football get in the way of real league football.

[RB]

Really hard one to pick. Sturt are probably the best of the bottom 4 for me, but I sense Port are due a win. Hopefully they'll beat Westies next week. Sturt by 2 points.