PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has downplayed fears about ruckman Paddy Ryder's ankle injury after he failed to finish the Power's JLT Community Series game against Adelaide at Port Pirie on Saturday.
Ryder was helped off the ground late in the fourth quarter after standing on the foot of teammate Sam Powell-Pepper.
Hinkley said Ryder rolled his ankle and the injury wasn't related to the Achilles problem that limited the 2017 All-Australian's impact last year.
CROWS SMOKE POWER Full match coverage and stats
"It's a rolled ankle, nothing too bad, which is a good result, because I'm like you, I was sitting there going, 'I hope it's not his Achilles', but it's not his Achilles," Hinkley said.
"He hurt his ankle in the first kick-in play, you'll see, he just gave it a little tweak, then he stood on Sam Powell-Pepper's foot after the ruck contest, so he's really comfortable.
"It's a little swollen, but it's nothing major."
The positive prognosis on Ryder's injury capped an encouraging outing for the Power, despite going down to the Crows by 17 points – 16.10 (106) to 14.5 (89).
Youngster Zak Butters all but punched his ticket for a round one debut, the No. 12 overall pick from the 2018 NAB AFL Draft finishing with 25 disposals in a strong performance.
Fellow first-round draft picks Connor Rozee and Xavier Duursma also had their moments in promising signs for the future.
"All three of the boys showed enough," Hinkley said.
"Duursma's first mark, it was a pretty courageous mark and he did some nice things.
"Connor did some nice things and Zak had a really strong day first up, but they're learning a lot.
"These are first-year players coming into an AFL environment where there is lots to understand."
West Coast premiership-winning ruckman Scott Lycett, former Hawthorn defender Ryan Burton and ex-Brisbane utility Sam Mayes slotted in nicely into their new surroundings.
The Crows fielded a much more settled line-up, with 16 survivors from the side that took to the field in the 2017 Grand Final.
"We got what we wanted from the game," Crows coach Don Pyke said.
"It was a good hit-out for our guys.
"We saw some of the things we've been working on.
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"Probably a bit slow to start, but worked our way into the groove and I was really happy with what we did."
The only injury concern for the Crows was a foot injury to forward Riley Knight, who didn't finish the game.
"Riley Knight jammed his foot up a little bit, we're pretty hopeful that will be alright," Pyke said.
"It was just no risk with him."
The Crows travel to Canberra to face Greater Western Sydney on Friday night, while the Power host North Melbourne at Alberton Oval on Saturday.
