PORT Adelaide has sent a contingent of its players to Queensland to take part in a scratch match with Geelong and Richmond on Saturday after booking in its preliminary final berth.
A dozen Power players who didn't feature in Thursday night's qualifying final win against Geelong arrived on the Gold Coast on Friday before their scrimmage on Saturday in a combined clash with the Cats and Tigers.
It will be an important dose of match conditioning for the players who have missed out on selection in the clubs' respective first finals.
-
10:18
Scott: 'We had enough chances to win'
Chris Scott says the Power deserved their victory but also claims 'it was a bitter pill to swallow' after his side wasted opportunities in front of goal
-
08:08
Hinkley: 'We were pretty ruthless'
Ken Hinkley says his side's third quarter was played in 'Port Adelaide-fashion' and turned out to be the catalyst in an inspired victory
-
07:54
-
00:39
Ex-Cat haunts his old side again, Port nearly home
The Power conjure a special team goal to inch one step closer to a preliminary final
-
00:38
Danger, that's absolutely frightening, one of your best ever
Geelong superstar Paddy Dangerfield produces one of the best goals of year with an unbelievable display of pace to electrify everyone
-
00:29
Devastating Duursma blow after courageous act
Port young gun Xavier Duursma gets helped off the field after putting his body on the line in a marking contest
-
00:43
Selwood stunner silences the Power
Joel Selwood chimes in with a sensational effort right on the brink of half-time
-
00:56
Stadium goes nuts after Danger gets crunched
Cats superstar Paddy Dangerfield gets collected in a huge tackle right in front of the boisterous Port Adelaide faithful
-
00:43
Tomahawk and Tuohy wrestle their way through
Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy show some great strength and poise to combine for a fantastic goal
-
00:42
Power erupt as Motlop makes his move
The Port Adelaide faithful rise off their chairs after Steven Motlop bags his side's opening goal of the finals
-
00:52
Returning Cat rises for crucial opener
Rhys Stanley claims the opening goal of the finals after clunking a terrific mark in the forward line
Richmond had planned to battle Brisbane in a scrimmage game last weekend, where the Tigers had hoped to give important match conditioning to Dion Prestia before they recalled him for the qualifying final.
But that game fell through, with the Tigers instead having a strong internal hitout last week.
Meanwhile, the Lions booked in a scrimmage with St Kilda's players for Friday morning before their senior side took on Richmond at the Gabba in the evening. The Saints face the Western Bulldogs in an elimination final on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are unlikely to have any more scratch matches for their players even if they progress deeper into the finals.
The Power have an extremely healthy list heading into their first preliminary final since 2014, having regained Tom Clurey and Ryan Burton from injuries against the Cats.
Having a third club involved in the scratch match will allow for the game to be played under more normal conditions for the top-four sides.
Throughout this year clubs have often played games of 12-15 players per side, however the addition of another batch of players will see numbers closer to usual.
