Port Adelaide is in the process of making a number of changes to their regular side and in doing so, could see a number of stalwarts move on.
Paddy Ryder, Justin Westhoff and Sam Powell-Pepper were omitted from the team that defeated the top-of-the-table Cats last Saturday night, while Tom Rockliff remains on the outer with a hamstring issue.
Terry Wallace has gone through all four players and determined what he thinks the future holds for them.
Justin Westhoff
“Justin Westhoff, unless there is major injury, I don’t think gets back into this side,” Wallace told SEN Afternoons.
“So that’s fairly significant, I think he retires (at the end of the season).”
Patrick Ryder
“Patrick Ryder has always and will always want to be the number one ruckman. He is not fitting into the forward-ruck role whatsoever and he is now not even going to be considered for the forward-ruck role now that Charlie Dixon is back in.”
“Patrick Ryder will be at a new club in 12 months … I’ll go St Kilda. I wouldn’t if I was St Kilda, I would continue with Rowan Marshall, I love Marshall.”
Sam Powell-Pepper
“The first thing with Sam Powell-Pepper is I think they want to re-establish what he is and who he is within that football club.”
“He’s the youngest of these players. I’ve never thought he was the Ollie Wines type midfielder to just be in there churning it out.
“When he came through the under 18s system, he was more a dynamic forward flanker.
“Maybe he’d be better suited more to the role of a Jordan de Goey – that type of role – I know de Goey plays a little bit deeper, but I think that they might readjust him. When Boak went back into the middle, Powell-Pepper might end up playing that Boak high half-forward role.
“He will have the WA clubs come knocking. Does he take on board what the club are trying to do with him, if so I think he comes back into the line-up, or does he put his tail between his leg and run for home.”
Tom Rockliff
“I think Tom Rockliff is in trouble. I think he’s superfluous to Port Adelaide’s needs.”
“When you have a look at what they’ve got, they’ve got Tom Rockliff’s all over the place.
“Personally, would someone else take him on this late, I’m doubtful.
“He probably has another year to go I would think (with Port) … personally, no I don’t (think another team will pick him up).
“He’s got 12 months to turn it around with Port Adelaide I would’ve thought.”
What does the coach say?
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley told SEN SA Breakfast this morning that none of the trio omitted are likely to return to face the Bulldogs this weekend.
“For us, it’s unlikely that we would bring any of the boys back in that actually haven’t played or missed out last week because of form,” the Power coach told SEN SA Breakfast.
“So I think that would be reasonable to suggest that they should and probably will play in the (Port Adelaide) Magpies.
“But we do face some challenges with selection so I won’t pre-empt exactly what’s going to happen or not happen.
“I’m one part of it so we’ll sit down and discuss that later on today.”