Injured Ryder still in line for Round 1
PORT Adelaide’s ace ruckman Paddy Ryder has suffered a fractured cheekbone in a 21point AFL pre-season win over North Melbourne.
But coach Ken Hinkley expects Ryder to play in the premiership season opener following yesterday’s 19.9 (123) to 16.6 (102) Alberton Oval win.
The All Australian suffered a depressed fracture in his right cheekbone in a clash of heads with teammate Robbie Gray.
“He is okay,” Hinkley said of Ryder. “It’s quite simple. It sounds a bit cold, but they (surgeons) will just flick that (depression) out.
“And I’d say, realistically, he’s a more than good chance to play Round 1.”
Port also lost second-year backman Jarrod Lienert to a knee injury. He will have scans on suspected medial ligament damage and is expected to miss two to four weeks.
The Power’s Todd Marshall can expect match review panel scrutiny for a high bump on North’s Sam Wright.
Marshall’s late hip-andshoulder stunned Wright, who was assisted by trainers from the ground and spent the mandatory 20-minute spell on the bench under the concussion protocol.
And Port’s untested 2017 draftee Jake Patmore will miss the season – he will have knee reconstruction surgery after being injured on Friday night in a state league trial.
The incidents took some gloss off yesterday’s powerhouse performance from Port’s Tom Rockliff, who gathered 42 disposals and kicked two goals. The former Brisbane captain, entering his second season at Port, also took 17 marks and teammates Travis Boak (27 touches) and Darcy ByrneJones (25 disposals) were prominent.