Port Adelaide are hoping for the best, but fearing the worst, after pressure forward Sam Powell-Pepper suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury.
Powell-Pepper will have scans on his knee after going off during the third quarter of Port’s 11.16 (82) to 10.12 (72) win over St Kilda at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
It was a night of carnage for the Power, who also lost captain Connor Rozee (hamstring) and defender Aliir Aliir (concussion).
All three will almost certainly miss Port’s Showdown against Adelaide back at the same venue on Thursday night.
Port coach Ken Hinkley admitted the incident looked “a bit nasty”.
“The medical report is that they’re a little bit hopeful,” he said.
“But we’ll wait and see what, again, what the scan says.
“There’s some scare because he’s hurt his knee.
“When you hurt your knee, and can’t go back on, my history in the game and the amount of times I’ve seen those sort of things happen, it lends itself towards possibly being an ACL.
“But the doctors were saying afterwards, that there’s some promising parts around the way it tested. We won’t guess, it’s too hard to guess.”
Rozee, Port’s star midfielder, will likely be sidelined for Port’s first Showdown against the Crows since he was named captain ahead of this season.
The 24-year-old will undergo scans but indicated in a post-game interview it was a minor hamstring strain.
“Just a little nick in the hammy so hopefully not too long,” Rozee told the Seven Network.
Aliir has been placed into concussion protocols following a tackle by St Kilda small forward Jack Higgins in in the second term.
Higgins faces a nervous wait to learn if he will be cited by the match review officer for a dangerous tackle.
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said he had not seen the incident
“There’s great processes and structures within the AFL and the game so everything gets taken care of in the end,” Lyon said.
Port Adelaide got its season back on track with the 10-point win, though at one stage the Power kicked 1.9 before hitting their straps to lead by 10 points at half-time.
The Saints finished with more energy, but could not create enough scores to cause the upset.
The win leaves Port Adelaide at 5-2, and St Kilda at 2-5.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
Live scores
That’s where we’ll leave it
That’s where we’ll wrap things up.
The fallout from this game will be sizeable – keep an eye on ABC as we learn more about the impact of Port Adelaide’s injuries and other reaction out of tonight’s game.
We’ll be back tomorrow for the full slate of games, starting with North Melbourne vs Adelaide in Hobart from 1:45pm AEST.
Then there’ll be a mouthwatering contest at the MCG between the unbeaten Geelong and Carlton.
We’ll wrap up the day with Fremantle taking on the Bulldogs in the West (Perth, that is).
Hopefully we’ll see you all then – for now, it’s goodnight.
Port Adelaide 11.16 (82) def St Kilda 10.12 (72)
Port Adelaide’s 10-point win over St Kilda has come at a giant cost after they lost captain Connor Rozee, forward Sam Powell-Pepper and defender Aliir Aliir to injuries.
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 (hamstring) and Powell-Pepper (knee) during the third quarter.
Aliir was subbed out for Jackson Mead after being concussed in the second term following a tackle by St Kilda forward Jack Higgins, who will face a nervous wait before the match review officer delivers his findings.
The trio will almost certainly be ruled out of the Power’s Showdown with Adelaide back at the same venue on Thursday night.
Powell-Pepper was only playing 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.
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.
AAP
St Kilda left to rue the one that got away
They should never have really been in this one, St Kilda, but they were a bit too dour in the final quarter when they had the chance to run over the top of a tiring Port Adelaide.
They lost most of the main statistical areas, and their 72 turnovers probably hurt them.
There were plenty of times when they looked like they were a chance to break free, but a pass went missing or a target was missed.
That leaves the Saints at 2-5 and by the end of the weekend they could be two games out of the eight.
There were some strong performances from the likes of Bradley Hill and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera – at least early in the piece – but the Saints now HAVE to beat North Melbourne next week.
Willem Drew wins the Peter Badcoe Medal
Port Adelaide’s Willem Drew wins the Peter Badcoe Medal.
His 23 possessions, eight tackles, three clearances and five intercept possessions made a big contribution.
Key Event
FT: Port Adelaide beats St Kilda by 10 points
The siren goes, and Port Adelaide get a vital win, but at what a cost!
The Power advance to 5-2, but a concussion to Aliir Aliir, knee issue for Sam Powell-Pepper, a hamstring for Connor Rozee and some sort of leg issue for Darcy Byrne-Jones is not the way Port Adelaide would want to go into next week’s Showdown against the Crows.
That’s a disappointing result for the Saints, they tried hard, but benefited from Port Adelaide’s poor kicking to stay in the game.
Zaine Cordy gets late goal for Saints
This game is pretty much over, but the Saints go through the corridor one more time and Zaine Cordy ends up kicking their 11th of the night.
They still trail by 10 inside the final minute.
Ollie Wines kicks a vital goal for Port Adelaide
It doesn’t matter!
Port Adelaide force it inside 50 and lock it in, before Ollie Wines snaps it from 25. It goes through, and that should be that!
Power by 16
Charlie Dixon misses a chance for the Power!
Port Adelaide broke down field there, they kicked clear inside 50 to Charlie Dixon, who couldn’t take the mark but held his feet as the defender lost his.
He ran onto it and snapped from the pocket but missed everything.
Jack Higgins kicks a goal for St Kilda!
Port Adelaide are running out of energy here!
They are doing a great job iof intercept possessions at the back, but their accuracy of kicks are fading.
Saints take advantage, and Mitch Owens sets up Jack Higgins in the pocket.
He runs around, snaps it and there is silence!
It’s a 10-point game with six minutes left!
Darcy Byrne-Jones off the ground for Port Adelaide
Byrne-Jones was looking sore before, he has now limped from the ground has lain down on the mat at the sideline.
He is not looking a good show to return. Are Port Adelaide going to run out of players here?
Jack Sinclair kicks one for St Kilda
it’s not over yet, folks!
St Kilda mount an attack, going long and high inside 50, it comes off hands, Jack Sinclair gets to the drop and sharks it and dribbles it home!
15 points!
Port Adelaide’s injury list growing
Charlie Dixon kicks another goal for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide kick clear!
That looked like a fairly soft free kick, with Dougal Howard paid for holding on Charlie Dixon.
The big man went back and kicked the goal from in front, and the home side leads by 21 points.
It’s hard to see St Kilda coming back from here, but who knows?
Another injury for Port Adelaide?
Darcy Byrne-Jones looks to be sore at the minimum, injured at worst. The Power cannot afford to lose another player now.
Mitch Georgiades misses another chance for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide getting repeat inside 50s here, the Power get a free kick as Josh Battle catches Mitch Georgiades high.
It’s straight in front, within range, but he steers it wide!
Port Adelaide by 15 points.
Key Event
Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee out
That’s a rough start to the final quarter!
Port Adelaide’s Rozee is getting ice put on his hamstring – that’s his night finished!
The Power are down to two on the bench. Can the Saints take advantage?
A behind to Port Adelaide makes the lead 14 points – they might need every point of that margin by the end of this.
This was from earlier
Key Event
3QT: Port Adelaide leads St Kilda by 13 points
Well, the siren sounds to end a dramatic quarter, and Port Adelaide are in control … but this game isn’t over yet.
Late in the quarter the cameras panned across the sidelines and Power skipper Connor Rozee looking frustrated as he sat on the bench.
He was having work done on his hamstring before, we’re not sure if he has been ruled out of the game, or what the deal is, but he’s not happy.
Port Adelaide has already made its sub, and Sam Powell-Pepper is out meaning the home side is down one on the bench.
If Rozee can’t return, the Saints are a chance here to run over the top in the final stages.
Goal to Port Adelaide after mark out of bounds
Controversy!
Port Adelaide went forward and kicked inside 50 to the left forward pocket.
Darcy Byrne-Jones took a mark which looked out of bounds. Even he looked like he thought it was out, but it was given and he lined up from 45.
Byrne-Jones’ kick was perfect, the goal stood, and the Power leads by two goals.
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