Port Adelaide’s ace ruckman Paddy Ryder has suffered a facial injury in a 21-point AFL pre-season win over North Melbourne.
Ryder, tenderly feeling his upper right jaw, was helped from the field in the last quarter of Port’s 19.9 (123) to 16.6 (102) victory on Saturday at Alberton Oval.
The All Australian ruck was hurt in a clash of heads with teammate Robbie Gray as the pair bent to contest a loose ball.
An upset Ryder threw his mouthguard to the ground as medicos took him from the field.
The Power also lost second-year backman Jarrod Lienert to a knee injury and he didn’t return after halftime. Teammate Todd Marshall can expect match review panel scrutiny for a high bump on North’s Sam Wright.
Marshall’s late hip-and-shoulder stunned Wright, who was assisted by trainers from the ground and spent the mandatory 20-minute spell on the bench under the concussion protocol before returning.
The incidents came in a free-flowing fixture highlighted by a powerhouse performance from Port’s Tom Rockliff, who gathered 42 disposals and kicked two goals.
The former Brisbane captain, entering his second season at Port, also took 17 marks and teammates Travis Boak (27 touches) and Darcy Byrne-Jones (25 disposals) were prominent.
Impressive draftee Zak Butters surely sealed his selection for the start of the premiership season with three goals, while five Power players kicked two majors – Robbie Gray, ruck recruit Scott Lycett, Justin Westhoff, Rockliff and Byrne-Jones.
North’s Jared Polec, playing against his former club for the first time, was influential with 25 disposals and a goal – a 45-metre shot from inside the boundary, in front of a jeering grandstand.
First-year draftee Bailey Scott enhanced his claims for round one with two goals among 21 touches and Shaun Higgins (28 possessions, two goals) was influential.
North’s Paul Ahern (21 disposals) booted three goals – all in an opening quarter which featured seven goals from each side – and captain Jack Ziebell and Kane Turner scored two apiece.
The Kangaroos enter the premiership season without a win from their two trial games.