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Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper is out for the AFL season after scans confirmed the pressure forward ruptured his ACL.
Powell-Pepper left the field during the third quarter of the Power’s 11.16 (82) to 10.12 (72) victory over St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The club confirmed the injury on Saturday, saying Powell-Pepper would miss the rest of the year and would undergo surgery to repair his knee ligament in the coming days.
“We are incredibly disappointed for Sam,” Port Adelaide head of medical services Tim O’Leary said.
“Sam is a dedicated and diligent athlete who attacks his training with relentless intensity and will no doubt approach his rehabilitation in the same way.
“He will continue to be as involved as he can be, as a leader and important member of our playing group.
“It is a very tough injury for a footballer. We are all behind him and we know that he will come out on the other side stronger and more determined.”
Powell-Pepper was playing in just his third game since serving a four-game suspension for a high hit during a preseason hit.
In a fresh blow, Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee faces a battle to be fit for Thursday’s clash after the club confirmed he suffered a minor hamstring strain.
The 24-year-old will be evaluated during the week.
The Power will be without Aliir Aliir for the clash against the Crows at Adelaide Oval after the key defender suffered a concussion against St Kilda.
Aliir has been placed in concussion protocols following a tackle by St Kilda forward Jack Higgins in the second period.
Higgins faces a three-match suspension as a result of the dangerous tackle after throwing Aliir to the turf.
The AFL match review officer charged Higgins with rough conduct and rated the tackle as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
Watch how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Key events
Life points
That’s where we’ll leave it.
That’s where we’ll end things.
The fallout from this game will be considerable – stay tuned to ABC as we learn more about the impact of Port Adelaide’s injuries and other reactions to tonight’s game.
We’ll be back tomorrow for the full game schedule, starting with North Melbourne vs Adelaide in Hobart from 1:45pm AEST.
Then there will be a delightful contest at the MCG between unbeaten Geelong and Carlton.
We will end the day with Fremantle take on the Bulldogs in the West (i.e. Perth).
I hope we all see each other then; For now, good night.
Port Adelaide 11.16 (82) vs St Kilda 10.12 (72)
Port Adelaide’s 10-point win over St Kilda came at a huge cost after they lost captain Connor Rozee, forward Sam Powell-Pepper and defender Aliir Aliir to injuries.
The Power found a way to contain the plucky Saints, who responded well from an embarrassing 60-point loss to the Western Bulldogs last week.
After leading by 13 points at the final break, Port battled back to win 11.16 (82) to 10.12 (72) at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The Power were forced to play the final quarter with just two fit players on the bench after losing Rozee (hamstring) and Powell-Pepper (knee) during the third quarter.
Aliir was replaced by Jackson Mead after suffering a concussion in the second period following a challenge by St Kilda forward Jack Higgins, who will face a nervous wait before the match review official delivers his findings.
The trio will almost certainly be ruled out of the Power’s Showdown with Adelaide back at the same venue on Thursday night.
Powell-Pepper was only playing his third game since a four-game suspension for a high hit during a preseason hit.
Veteran striker Charlie Dixon stepped up with four goals as his Power teammates struggled for accuracy.
In his 100th game, star midfielder Zak Butters was Port’s leading possession winner with 27, while Willie Rioli moved ahead with two goals in his limited opportunities.
Inaccurate Port moved to 5-2 this season with its 13th win in its last 14 meetings with St Kilda.
The result left the Saints with a 2-5 record ahead of a clash with lowly North Melbourne next Saturday.
AAP
St Kilda left to mourn the one that got away
They should never really have been in this one, St Kilda, but they were a little too harsh in the final quarter when they had a chance to get past a tired Port Adelaide.
They missed most of the major statistical areas and their 72 turnovers probably hurt them.
There were many times where it looked like they had a chance to break free, but a pass was missed or a goal was missed.
That leaves the Saints at 2-5 and by the end of the weekend they could be two games out of eight.
There were some solid performances from the likes of Bradley Hill and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, at least early on, but the Saints now HAVE to beat North Melbourne next week.
Willem Drew wins the Peter Badcoe medal
Port Adelaide’s Willem Drew wins the Peter Badcoe Medal.
His 23 possessions, eight tackles, three clearances and five interception possessions made a huge contribution.
FT: Port Adelaide beats St Kilda by 10 points
The siren sounds and Port Adelaide wins a vital victory, but at what cost!
The Power moves to 5-2, but a concussion for Aliir Aliir, a knee problem for Sam Powell-Pepper, a hamstring for Connor Rozee and some kind of leg problem for Darcy Byrne-Jones is not the way Port Adelaide would want to get in. The matchup against the Ravens next week.
It’s a disappointing result for the Saints, they tried hard but benefited from poor kicking from Port Adelaide to stay in the game.
Zaine Cordy scores late goal for Saints
This game is practically over, but the Saints go down the hall once again and Zaine Cordy ends up kicking the 11th of the night.
They are still losing by 10 in the last minute.
Ollie Wines scores vital goal for Port Adelaide
It doesn’t matter!
Port Adelaide forces it in for 50 and blocks it, before Ollie Wines takes it for 25. It passes, and that should be it!
Power by 16
Charlie Dixon misses a chance for Power!
Port Adelaide broke the field there, kicking inside 50 to Charlie Dixon, who couldn’t take the mark but held his feet when the defender lost his.
He ran towards it and pulled it out of his pocket, but everything was lost.
Jack Higgins scores a goal for St Kilda!
Port Adelaide is running out of power here!
They’re doing a great job intercepting possessions on defense, but their kicking accuracy is slipping.
The Saints take advantage and Mitch Owens puts Jack Higgins in the pocket.
He runs, breaks it and there is silence!
It’s a 10-point game with six minutes left!
Darcy Byrne-Jones takes off for Port Adelaide
Byrne-Jones had looked in pain before, now he limped off the ground and lay down on the mat next to the bench.
Doesn’t seem like a good show to return to. Will Port Adelaide run out of players here?
Jack Sinclair kicks one for St Kilda
It’s not over yet, friends!
St Kilda mount an attack, going long and high inside the 50, it gets out of hand, Jack Sinclair gets to the drop, flicks it in and dribbles it home.
15 points!
Port Adelaide injury list grows
Charlie Dixon scores another goal for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide clears!
It looked like a fairly soft free-kick, with Dougal Howard paid for holding Charlie Dixon.
The big man stepped back and fired from the front, and the hosts lead with 21 points.
It’s hard to imagine St Kilda coming back from here, but who knows?
Another injury for Port Adelaide?
Darcy Byrne-Jones appears to be sore at best and injured at worst. The Power cannot afford to lose another player now.
Mitch Georgiades misses another opportunity for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide repeats inside 50 here, the Power receive a free when Josh Battle traps Mitch Georgiades high.
It’s right in front, within range, but he deflects it!
Port Adelaide by 15 points.
Port Adelaide captain Connor Rozee out
That’s a rough start to the fourth quarter!
Port Adelaide’s Rozee is having his hamstring iced – that’s his night over!
Power has been reduced to two on the bench. Can the Saints take advantage?
A deficit against Port Adelaide makes the lead 14 points; they may need all the points in that margin at the end of this.
This was from before
3QT: Port Adelaide leads St Kilda by 13 points
Well, the siren sounds to end a dramatic quarter and Port Adelaide is in control… but this game isn’t over yet.
Late in the quarter, cameras panned the sidelines and Power captain Connor Rozee looked frustrated as he sat on the bench.
He had hamstring surgery before, we’re not sure if he’s been ruled out of the game or what the deal is, but he’s not happy.
Port Adelaide have already made their substitution and Sam Powell-Pepper is out, meaning the home side are one less on the bench.
If Rozee can’t return, the Saints have a chance here to come out on top in the closing stages.
Goal to Port Adelaide after mark out of bounds
Controversy!
Port Adelaide advanced and kicked inside the 50 into the front left pocket.
Darcy Byrne-Jones received a mark that seemed out of bounds. Even he seemed to think he was out, but he gave in and lined up from the 45th.
Byrne-Jones’ shot was perfect, the goal stood and the Power lead by two goals.
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