Dixon’s hopes hinge on medical
HOW Charlie Dixon presents when assessed by Port Adelaide on Monday could be key in whether the Power spearhead plays his first AFL game of the season against North Melbourne.
Dixon played first match of footy this year, for the Magpies in the SANFL on Saturday, after two surgeries on his ankle.
Playing 75 per cent of the game against Woodville-West Torrens, Dixon kicked a goal and had 10 touches.
He will be assessed on Monday ahead of a decision mid week as to whether he makes the trip down to Hobart to take on the Kangaroos.
How Dixon pulls up from his first outing of the year, whether he is fit enough and the Power’s forward line mix – following Todd Marshall, Jeremy Finlayson and Mitch Georgiades’ best game together against Western Bulldogs on Friday night – will all come into consideration as to whether Port bring back its spearhead.
Dixon himself said his ankle was still “a little bit proppy” following his first game of the season.
“It was frustrating conditions, but it’s good to get through and the ankle is still a little bit proppy,” he told Port Adelaide’s website.
“But to get through and get in some contests has been really good.”
Port’s SANFL side has a bye this week.
“We’ll see what happens this week. I know the SANFL boys have got a bye this weekend,” he said.
“I’ll do whatever the coaches want me to do and see how it pulls up tomorrow (Sunday), which is key as well and go from there.”
Legendary North Melbourne forward Wayne Carey said with the Power winning three in a row, and Marshall, Finlayson and Georgiades starting to jell, coach Ken Hinkley did not need to rush Dixon back for the game against the Roos.
“A few of their young forwards are starting to play a little bit of footy together but he comes back and he gives them a different look,” he said on Channel 7.
“He gives them competitiveness, he doesn’t necessarily have to mark the ball all the time.
“He’s a certainty once he gets up and going but all of a sudden they have a bit of momentum and they are not needing now to rush him back.
“A couple of weeks ago you were thinking get him back, get him back but no need to do that now. Get him right for when he comes back in.”
Hinkley said it was a nice problem to have, his four talls all being fit again, after the win over the Bulldogs.
The Power did go with four talls in addition to a ruckman on multiple occasions last year.
Of the seven games they fielded four talls, in addition to a ruck, the Power only lost to West Coast in Perth.