Geelong Advertiser

Mixed injury news for Power

- SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON

PORT Adelaide assistant coach Chad Cornes says he is “pretty confident” Charlie Dixon will be able to play AFL football this weekend, but says Orazio Fantasia will now need at least one SANFL game.

The two star forwards haven’t played for the Power this year after ankle and knee surgeries.

Dixon looks set for a return against Essendon on Sunday after he stepped up his comeback for the Magpies in the SANFL. Against West Adelaide in Loxton, Dixon kicked 3.3 and had 16 disposals.

Cornes said Dixon was primed to return for the Power.

“I was watching Charlie closely, he was moving a lot better than he had in the previous Magpies game,” he said.

“I’m pretty confident he will play.”

Fantasia was an unused medical sub two weeks ago against North Melbourne and was set to again fill that role in the Power’s loss to Geelong.

But after he didn’t pull up the way coaches wanted him to last week he was named for the SANFL side instead.

A tight quad then meant he didn’t play at state league level.

Cornes said Fantasia would more than likely play at SANFL level this weekend, especially given his injury history.

“He pulled up a little bit sore from training. Nothing related to his previous injury,” Cornes said.

“So I would anticipate that he would have to go back and play some time in the Magpies now, I’m not sure if we would be able to pick him this week confidentl­y.”

The return of Dixon (pictured) and wet conditions forecast for Sunday mean the Power is unlikely to go with a four-tall forward line of its spearhead alongside Todd Marshall, Mitch Georgiades and Jeremy Finlayson.

“So I’m not sure you can play the four talls if there’s going to be 15mm of rain, it is also meant to be pretty windy on Sunday,” Cornes said.

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