Ryder in waiting game on injury blow

PORT Adelaide will have a clearer picture of Paddy Ryder’s injury tomorrow after he meets medical staff for his achilles injury.

Ryder, who had a breakout All Australian season in 2017, sat out most of the second half against Fremantle on Friday night while icing his heel and is unlikely to play against Sydney on Sunday.

His injury is not new — he pulled up sore after the club’s JLT Community Series match against the Crows at a hard Alberton deck — and will need ongoing management.

Ryder has been dealing with achilles tendon issues for several seasons.

It leaves the Power to consider rucking Justin Westhoff again — possibly in tandem with Dougal Howard — after he took over from Ryder against the Dockers.

The other option is to bring in a young ruckman such as Billy Frampton, Sam Hayes or Pete Ladhams.

The big question mark in whistling up one of the younger players would be how they can contribute when they are not in the ruck.

Port’s ruck dilemma comes as coach Ken Hinkley said he was comfortable playing three tall forwards in Charlie Dixon, Jack Watts and Todd Marshall. But Hinkley said you simply had to play to your strengths, whether that meant a tall or short forward line.

“It can work [having three talls],” Hinkley said. “You play with what you have and I don’t think any side is any different.

“At the moment we’ve got some great options in our tall forwards and hopefully we can continue to play with them.”