Port Adelaide admit they’re taking a selection punt on John Butcher, who will play his first AFL game in 10 months in Saturday’s home match against Geelong.
Butcher has been summoned to replace injured ruckman Matthew Lobbe, who rolled an ankle at agility training on Thursday night.
Butcher hasn’t played an AFL game since July 7 last year and has been out of sorts in SANFL ranks in his comeback from hip surgeries.
But the key forward is a gamble worth taking, according to Port assistant coach Shaun Rehn.
“(Coach) Kenny (Hinkley) termed it as you walk out on a twig a little bit with Butch,” Rehn told reporters on Friday.
“Yes, there is some risk. But with risk there is also great reward and hopefully for Butch, we will get the reward.”
Butcher’s 2012 season ended with hip surgery in July, followed by more hip surgery in the off-season.
His recall heaps a load on to Port’s Jarrad Redden, the 13-gamer now Port’s sole specialist ruckman as they seek to end a three-game losing streak by upsetting the Cats.
Ruck coach Rehn said the output of the 22-year-old Redden would be crucial against the second-placed Cats, who statistically rank last in the league for winning clearances and stoppages.
“They are very attacking from clearance and they do surround that clearance very well, so any turnover from clearance, they hurt you on the scoreboard,” Rehn said.
“Having said that, they have got some really high class midfielders in there so when they do win the clearance, they are very attacking and very dangerous.
“Statistics are not always what they’re built up to be.
“Geelong and us are right down the bottom in hit outs as well, so there is definitely a small correlation between getting your hand on the footy in the ruck and your ability to clear the ball.”
“We’d like to get the advantage. We think our method from clearance can improve but it’s a good week for our young ruckman in Redden to see what he can do.”
A