Ollie Wines was ruled out for Round 5, while West Coast also suffered a major injury blow with Nic Naitanui out for months which may help Hugh Dixon and Patty McCartin was cleared.
UPDATES
Paddy Ryder (AF $585k SC $455k RUCK) has been offered a two-game ban by the AFL’s MRO for “rough conduct against Will Day”. Ryder being out may positively impact Jack Hayes’ (AF $367k SC $187k F/R) selection.
Ollie Wines (AF $883k SC $555k MID) has been ruled out of Port’s Round 5 game after his heart scare which saw him hospitalised after Thursday’s loss to Melbourne.
Wines told reporters: “I’ll miss this week at this stage but there are some more tests to look into this week just to get a bit of an idea of a time frame but hopefully not too much footy.”
Port Head of Medical Services Tim O’Leary said: “His health is our paramount concern so he will remain under observation and have some further testing over the coming days.
“Following that testing, we would expect that any timelines for Ollie to return to playing would become more apparent but as I said, this is a secondary consideration behind his personal wellbeing.”
Sam Skinner (AF $208k SC $123k D/F) could come back into contention for Port this weekend. Skinner was listed as omitted in the teams, but coach Ken Hinkley had said he was unavailable due to an ankle injury.
Skinner wasn’t listed in Port’s injury list this week, but Trent McKenzie (AF $478k SC $404k DEF) was having had an “arthroscopic clean-out of loose bodies in his left knee”.
Aliir Aliir (AF $543k SC $477k DEF) has closed in on a quick return and has been listed as “assess” for their Round 5 game.
Rookie Josh Sinn (AF $270k SC $157k D/M) was listed as 3-4 weeks, with Port’s update saying: “Won’t play for the second week in-a-row as he continues to manage groin soreness.”
Across town, it doesn’t look like Wayne Milera (AF $382k SC $271k DEF) is ready for a return to the senior side yet.
Adelaide assistant coach Scott Burns said: “By all reports, it was one of his better games he’s played since he’s gone back (to the SANFL). That’s another 3-4 weeks he’s put together having not played for 2 years but there’s some good players underneath.”
West Coast suffered a major setback with Nic Naitanui (AF $620k SC $586k RUCK) ruled out until the second-half of the season with a medial ligament injury in his knee, which may positively impact the job security of Hugh Dixon (AF $278k SC $164k F/R).
Eagles footy manager Gavin Bell said: “We’ll take a really conservative approach with Nic. But we’re expecting to see him in the second half of the season.”
Patty McCartin (AF $359k SC $242k D/F) was given the all-clear by Sydney coach John Longmire after a late head knock. Longmire said: “No, he’s all good. All fine.”
