PORT Adelaide ruckman Paddy Ryder is literally jumping at the chance to return to the AFL in the Power's clash with Sydney at the SCG on Saturday.
After serving a 12-month suspension as part of the Essendon supplements saga last year, Ryder's athleticism around the ground improved the longer the JLT Community Series went on.
Power coach Ken Hinkley said Ryder – who posted a photo on Instagram at 12.01am in front of the club's Alberton headquarters on the day his anti-doping ban expired – couldn't wait to get back on the ground.
"(Ryder) is pretty excited, as you'd expect," Hinkley said.
"I'm sure with Paddy, you will see at the start how excited he is with the way he jumps at the footy.
"Having Ryder back in the side will give us a better understanding of where the ball is going."
Power captain Travis Boak will play his 200th game for the club, while midfield bull Sam Powell-Pepper, 27-year-old forward Brett Eddy and defender Dan Houston will all debut.
The only surprise was the selection of former vice-captain Hamish Hartlett on the bench.
Hartlett has moved from the midfield to the backline this season after the Power put him up for trade at the end of last year.
The 26-year-old – the No. 4 overall selection in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft – decided to remain at the Power where he is contracted until the end of 2021.
Hinkley said having Hartlett on the bench was a clerical oversight.
"I shouldn't say this, but I actually don't put that team in (to the AFL), so I don't know where you put them," Hinkley said.
"So no message to (Hartlett)."
Defender Matthew Broadbent comes straight into the side despite a hamstring injury stopping him from playing any games in the pre-season.
"You back his experience," Hinkley said.
"He's had a lot of time between when he hurt himself and now, he's had plenty of training, that's not the issue.
"It's just the fatigue of the game that will maybe get him and 140-odd games of experience, that helps."
Hinkley said the Power would rotate key defenders Jack Hombsch, Tom Jonas and Tom Clurey on Swans spearhead Lance Franklin.
"At some stage (Hombsch will play on Franklin), but not all the time," Hinkley said. "That's what you do now, you play team defence, it's pretty typical.
"It's easy to ask will Hombsch play on him, will Clurey play on him, will Jonas play on him - but the simple answer is they will all have some part on him at some stage.
"We just hope Buddy has a bad day."
Midfielder Joe Atley – the 32nd overall pick in last year's draft – will travel with the team as an emergency.
