Power assistant coach Matty Primus expects plenty of serious contests in tonight’s internal trial game at Alberton Oval as the players go head-to-head in a battle for the final spots in the Power’s first NAB Cup side.
Primus said he expected some of the young players to earn a spot in next Friday’s pre-season opener against the Crows, on the back of a good performance in tonight’s match.
“Normally there’s a couple of guys who you don’t have pencilled in who will perform pretty well tonight who next week get a game because of that,” Primus said.
“With the positions up for grabs I’m sure they’ll be having a crack at each other.
“They played a half-hour game last week (in Berri) and they’re looking forward to getting out there again and having a kick and stopping running laps.”
Primus said the teams would be roughly split into ‘probables’ versus ‘possibles’ although he expected the teams to get mixed around during the match.
The former Power captain and best-and-fairest winner, gave supporters three new names to look out for.
“David Rodan has trained pretty well this pre-season, Travis Boak played pretty well last week as did Robbie Gray so they are three young kids I think will be trying to get themselves in the team next week (against the Crows),” he said.
Primus, whose key area of focus is the club’s ruckmen, revealed reigning best-and-fairest Brendon Lade was likely to spend more time up forward through pre-season, aided up a fit and firing co-ruckman Dean Brogan.
“He’ll definitely start there tonight and through most of the NAB Cup he’ll probably start down there and then come on ball to give Dean a rest,” he said.
One talking point from the internal trial match, which begins at 6.15pm at Alberton Oval, could be the umpires’ interpretation of the AFL’s new stricter hands in the back rule.
Primus said the Power had addressed the new rule not only with the club’s defenders but also the ruckmen who could be affected by it.
“We have two senior umpires out here tonight and hopefully they will be interpreting it the way they are going to all year and our players can get used to it from the word go,” Primus said.
The club will be resting some players from the internal trial although Warren Tredrea is the only one who may not play at all during pre-season. Not playing in the internal trial are: Peter Hardy, Fabian Deluca, Paul Stewart, Hugh Minson, Nathan Lonie, Dom Cassisi, Matt Thomas and Tredrea.
Lonie and Cassisi are both expected to be available for Round 1 of the NAB Cup.
The internal trial is part of the club’s Family Day which will also feature appearances by the Power Funk Squad, Thunda Power, Kids 4 Life and Da Klinic.
Power players will be presented with their 2007 guernseys and there’s plenty of chances for autographs and photos.
Entry is by gold coin donation and free to Platinum Members.
Gates open and activities begin from 4.30pm. The game starts at 6.15pm. The new player guernseys are presented at 8.40pm and the player signing session is from 8.50pm.
