Ryder out of Test to look after his body

PORT Adelaide ruckman Patrick Ryder will miss the decisive second International Rules Test in his home city of Perth on Saturday.

The All-Australian ruckman is staying in Adelaide where Australia took a 10point lead over Ireland in the first Test at Adelaide Oval.

Port Adelaide says Ryder’s absence from the series was always planned, but not because he was in court yesterday to answer charges from a fight on Hindley Street on October 1.

Those charges of hindering arrest and assault of police were dropped on Tuesday when the Australian squad moved to Perth. Ryder was issued with a written caution from SA Police.

The Power says the 29year-old always intended to rest from the second Test to ease the demands on his body before his AFL pre-season starts next month.

Ryder’s absence from Perth — where the AFL will close its story at Subiaco Oval — is the second blow to Chris Scott’s Australian team. Collingwood captain and star midfielder Scott Pendlebury took a damaged left finger out of Sunday’s 63-53 win.

Ryder will not be replaced in the squad. Scott has North Melbourne forward Ben Brown to take on the minimal ruck work that has no boundary throw-ins and centre ruck duels only after goals that are rarely scored.

Pendlebury is likely to be covered by the return of Geelong captain Joel Selwood from an ankle injury.

Ireland, by contrast, has flown in a replacement — Darren Hughes, from Monaghan — to replace Gold Coast midfielder Pearce Hanley, who broke a bone in his right hand in Sunday’s international in Adelaide.