Port Adelaide co-captain Ollie Wines won’t be back for next week’s clash with GWS that could make or break their bid to play AFL finals.
Saturday’s 15.11 (101) to 9.9 (63) defeat to Richmond at the MCG has left ninth-placed Port a game outside the top eight with five rounds remaining.
And the bad news keeps coming with coach Ken Hinkley confirming Wines is no chance of returning for their must-win home clash with GWS.
The powerful midfielder had hoped to return quickly after fracturing his thumb during last week’s heavy loss to Brisbane.
“It’s two to three weeks probably,” Hinkley said.
“It’s not season-ending or anything like that but it’s one that you’d have to wait and see a little bit when he starts to be able to handle the ball again.
“Ollie wanted to try to push for selection (this week) but when he gets the scans and stuff that come through pretty clear… I’ve seen his thumb. It’s pretty brave to want to push but there’s realistic and there’s unrealistic.
“He’ll certainly be at least another week or two.”
Hinkley conceded they had been beaten by what they knew with Richmond’s suffocating pressure allowing them to create repeat turnovers.
The Power will weigh up whether to swing the axe at selection ahead of hosting the Giants at Adelaide Oval next Saturday night.
“If some people are struggling with form we’ll replace them with some players from the (SANFL) who have been in really good form,” Hinkley said.
“They play tomorrow and there’s some really good opportunity for people to push their case.
“You’ve got to be a little bit careful with how much you do or don’t do in these situations that we’re facing now.”
Meanwhile, Richmond could regain premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis for Friday night’s blockbuster clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
Nankervis will play for a half of Richmond’s VFL game on Sunday and will be monitored to see how he pulls up from the five-day break.
“They’ve beaten us the last two times and probably beaten us in a certain way so we’ll obviously be aware of that and have a better understanding of that,” Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.
“They’re a really good side, they’re well-coached and well-drilled and they’ve got incredible talent, so we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
© AAP
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