PORT Adelaide is hopeful forward/ruck Jeremy Finlayson will be available for its season opener against Brisbane next month despite requiring surgery for an ankle syndesmosis injury this week.
Finlayson was injured at training on Wednesday when his left ankle was caught under a teammate as he was tackled, with the 26-year-old unable to complete the session.
Subsequent scans confirmed a syndesmosis injury that would require surgery, putting Finlayson in doubt for the club's two pre-season games in Perth, starting next month.
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The Power face West Coast in a club-organised practice game on February 24 at Mineral Resources Park before meeting Fremantle at Fremantle Oval to finish their preparations on March 2.
The Power said Finlayson was expected to be ready for their season opener against Brisbane on March 18 at Adelaide Oval, giving him six weeks to recover.
The typical recovery time for syndesmosis injuries, which have been detected at a much greater rate in recent seasons, has been between six and eight weeks.
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Finlayson enjoyed a strong first season at Port in 2022, playing a vital role as an undersized ruckman after Scott Lycett was sidelined and becoming a threat around the ground.
The former Greater Western Sydney forward played 20 games and averaged a career-best 3.4 inside 50s and 2.4 clearances in his new role, finishing 10th in the Power's club champion award.
Lycett is fit after missing the majority of 2022 with a shoulder injury, giving the Power the ability to move Finlayson forward this season.
If he is unavailable for the start of the season, the Power remain well-stocked for key targets with tall forwards Todd Marshall and Charlie Dixon supported by talented youngster Mitch Georgiades.
Meanwhile, Port announced a two-year contract extension for forward Sam Powell-Pepper on Thursday, with the 25-year-old extending through to the end of 2025.
Drafted out of Western Australia with pick No.18 in the 2016 NAB AFL Draft, Powell-Pepper said he loved everything about Port Adelaide and he was thrilled to sign on after a strong 2022 season.
"I’ve built my life in Adelaide with my family, and I have strong friendships within the playing and coaching group as well as outside of footy," Powell-Pepper said.
"The club has helped me grow into the person I am today, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue that growth around a group that is driven for success."
Powell-Pepper played 22 games last season and finished fifth in the club champion award, settling into a hard-tackling forward role and kicking 24 goals.
"We love his willingness to hunt the ball and keep it in our forward line, and he is also contributing more on the scoreboard," list manager Jason Cripps said.
"He plays the Port Adelaide way – tough and hard at the footy – and is a real barometer for our side because of his energy.
"He’s a great teammate and really popular around the club, and we’re excited to have him at Alberton for another two years."
