White has break, but may still play against Fremantle
Matt White has cracked jaw, but may still play against Freo
PORT Adelaide speedster Matt White has a small crack high in his jaw, but it won't require surgery and the club isn't ruling him out of next Saturday night's semi final against Fremantle.
White was subbed out of Sunday's elimination final win over Richmond in the second term.
He was hit with a shoulder while trying to tackle an opponent in the 57-point mauling.
The Power said that although scans on his jaw had revealed a crack, it wasn't significant enough to immediately rule him out of the semi-final.
White will now be assessed throughout the week.
Ruckman Matthew Lobbe said that he'd "love" White to line up, but that in a worst-case scenario there were worthy replacements available.
"I just spoke to the doc before and he said he's got a small crack in his jaw," Lobbe said.
"They'll look at it later in the week … we'd love him to play but if he doesn't we’ve got great depth as well.
"A few boys stood out in a losing Magpies side on the weekend."
Ben Newton (26 disposals, 10 clearances, two goals) and Aaron Young (25 disposals, nine clearnaces) were two such standouts, while Kane Mitchell didn't play due to being senior emergency.
Mitchell's raw speed and endurance could have him in line for a like-for-like replacement if White is ruled out.
Saturday's trip to Perth will be the Power's second in three weeks after they lost to the Dockers in round 23 – left to rue nine unanswered Fremantle goals through the third term and into the last.
Lobbe said that for the most part his side's game plan stood up against the Dockers' defensive pressure, it just was unable to halt their momentum.
He said the Power were better placed to handle them this time around.
"I think a lot of the stuff we did we went about it the right way, for us it's about doing that for four quarters," he said.
"We know it's going to step up a lot again – the intensity and the pressure.
"I think we've got better every week, you get experience every game you play and you learn a little bit more.
"For us it's about playing the way we want to play which is defending first and winning the ball inside."
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