Connor Rozee

Connor Rozee withdrawn from Hawthorn clash

The Port skipper was initially named on the field for Sunday’s match.

Published by
Frank Seal

Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee will not lineup against Hawthorn this Sunday at the Adelaide Oval, with selectors opting to take caution with their superstar's hamstring concerns.

Rozee successfully completed the Friday training session ahead of Sunday's clash, but the club will not take the risk following their glaring mismanagement of the initial hamstring tweak in their Round seven defeat of St Kilda, choosing to play the captain in the following week's Showdown.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 26: Connor Rozee of the Power comes off injured during the 2024 AFL Round 07 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the St Kilda Saints at Adelaide Oval on April 26, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Coach Ken Hinkley publicly acknowledged his mistake after the Showdown loss and subsequently left Rozee out of the side for Port Adelaide's critical six-point win over Geelong last Friday.

He was originally named on the forward pocket for this Sunday's match, but with a clear risk associated with his return, the club will take the cautious approach.

"We have got a really good strong history of being able to manage these people really well," coach Ken Hinkley told reporters on Friday during his side's training session.

"We made a mistake (playing Rozee) but that's not going to scare us away from what we should be doing," he added.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18: Ken Hinkley, Senior Coach of the Power during the 2023 AFL Round 01 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval on March 18, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

"If there is any doubt at all, he won't play. If there is no doubt, he will play.

"We have been as thorough and as detailed as we could possibly be in making sure that we don't run the risk of Connor re-hurting himself."

The Power shouldn't be hindered by Rozee's absence, playing a bottom four team at home fresh off arguably their best win of the year without their captain - knocking off Geelong at the Cattery.

The Hawks, however, fresh off their own impressive victory, pride themselves on challenging any team at any venue in any conditions, so will undoubtedly be up for the fight in this Sir Doug Nicholls Round battle.

2024-05-19T05:20:00Z
Adelaide Oval
PORT
80
FT
79
HAW
Published by
Frank Seal