Port Adelaide are counting the cost of what could be a Pyrrhic victory against St Kilda if injured trio Aliir Aliir, Sam Powell-Pepper and superstar skipper Connor Rozee are sidelined for next week’s Showdown against Adelaide and beyond.
Aliir was subbed out of the game with concussion at half time after hitting his head on the ground in a nasty Jack Higgins tackle that is certain to attract scrutiny from the AFL’s match review officer.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Connor Rozee goes off with hamstring injury.
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Not long after that, there were fears for the worst when Powell-Pepper appeared to go down with a serious knee injury, but club medical staff breathed a sigh of relief when they suspected it was just jarred.
But the biggest shudder went through the Power coaches’ box when captain Rozee suffered a hamstring injury which is almost certain to see him sidelined for next week.
Rozee cut a dejected figure on the bench when his night was ended prematurely as trainers strapped ice to his hamstring.
“It’s turning into an injury disaster for Port Adelaide,” Brian Taylor said after Rozee took himself off.
Despite the injury carnage, the Power found a way to hold off the plucky Saints, who responded well from an embarrassing 60-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs last week.
After leading by 13 points at the final break, Port battled on to win 11.16 (82) to 10.12 (72) at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The Power were forced to play out the final quarter with just two fit players on the bench after losing Rozee and Powell-Pepper.
Powell-Pepper was playing just his third game since a four-match suspension for a high bump during a pre-season hitout.
Veteran key forward Charlie Dixon stepped up with four goals while his Power teammates struggled for accuracy.
In his 100th game, star midfielder Zak Butters was Port’s leading possession-winner with 27, while Willie Rioli stepped up with two goals from his limited opportunities.
St Kilda suffered an injury scare of their own, with ruck Rowan Marshall forced off early in the match with a suspected knee injury.
But Marshall was able to return and play out the game as St Kilda tried to combat the star-studded Power midfield and a lopsided free-kick count, 25-10 in Port’s favour.
Jack Sinclair, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Brad Hill were St Kilda’s best in their third-straight defeat.
Inaccurate Port moved to 5-2 this season with their 13th win from their last 14 meetings with St Kilda.
The result consigned the Saints to a 2-5 record ahead of a clash with lowly North Melbourne next Saturday.
– With AAP