Suns shine against injury-hit Port Adelaide in AFL practice
INJURIES to Sam Powell-pepper and Scott Lycett threaten to compound a poor Port Adelaide performance as the Power went down to Gold Coast in their first hitout of 2022.
Powell-pepper hurt his hamstring in the second quarter of the Power’s 21-loss to the Suns at Metricon Stadium and sat out the second half on Friday, while Lycett hurt his ankle in the third term and did not return in what was a poor day at the office for Port Adelaide.
While they lifted in the fourth the premiership aspirants were well off the pace against the Suns, who continued their habit of strong pre-season showings, for most of the day and inaccurate kicking only compounded this.
WHO STARRED
Noticeably bulked up, Matt Rowell showed why he is a ex-no 1 pick to offer hope that he might be back to his exciting best after two injuryplagued seasons.
Despite being up against an experienced Port midfield for much of the match Rowell was a contested beast at Metricon Stadium.
Touk Miller continued his fine 2021 campaign with another dominant display on ball, showing that the co-captaincy tag isn’t slowing him down one bit.
Harry Sharp was an excitement machine in a wing role, while watch out for Alex Davies who kicked two goals and put his 191cm frame to good use around the footy.
MAGNETS MOVED
There weren’t too many changes by Stuart Dew in what is a vital year for him. Lachie Weller played quite deep and took kick ins for the Suns while recruit from Carlton Levi Casboult started forward and then popped up all over the ground at times. Davies was rotated through on-ball, the wing and as a half-forward in his impressive showing.