PORT Adelaide defender Lachie Jones has a broken jaw and will miss the next month of the season.
Jones suffered the injury late in the Power's win against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
The 21-year-old, who was playing his second AFL game since being dropped after round three, finished the game but x-rays have revealed a fracture in his jaw.
Jones' form against the Dogs - a career-high 19 disposals - was hailed as a breakout performance for the third-year halfback.
"It was probably his best game for the club ... playing a really important role for us and being confident in that role," Power assistant coach Josh Carr said on Monday.
"So it's disappointing to lose him."
Jones' stint on the sidelines starts when the Power, on a club-record 10-game winning streak, host Geelong on Thursday night.
Port have ready-made replacements in halfback flankers Ryan Burton and Riley Bonner, who were left out for the game against the Bulldogs.
The Power's game against the Cats will be their third in 13 days but Geelong's first outing in 12 days after having their mid-season bye.
The second-placed Power have been tasked with three consecutive six-day breaks entering the Adelaide Oval encounter against last year's premiers, who are in ninth spot with six wins and six losses.
"We have been through this, all AFL teams went through this through the COVID years where you got short breaks and four-day breaks and five-day (breaks)," Carr said.
"They're professional. They look after themselves with their recovery.
"They get a long break after this week so the players are mentally prepared for it and they'll be fine."
The Power will have another light training week in preparation for the Cats, their last game before their bye.
"The last couple of weeks have been light weeks," Carr said.
"So as far as their main training session, there's a couple of drills in that, it's really just getting out there and moving and being ready to be well-prepared for Thursday night.
"You don't get a lot of drills into it but just get the players moving."
