Port Adelaide’s Angus Monfries takes on West Adelaide’s Nathan Batley. Picture: CALUM ROBERTSON
PORT Adelaide is hopeful Angus Monfries’ calf strain is nothing serious and should only set him back 1-2 weeks after he lasted just one quarter of the Magpies’ win on Sunday.
Monfries had ice strapped to his left calf in a blow to his hopes of playing his first AFL game for the season.
“We don’t think it’s that serious but we’ll know more as the week goes on,” Magpies coach Chad Cornes said.
“He was playing some solid footy and I know the public were keen to see him go up into the Power team so this should only delay him by one or two weeks, we have next week and then the bye so I think he’d be back after that.”
Port Adelaide’s Angus Monfries takes on West Adelaide’s Nathan Batley. Picture: CALUM ROBERTSONSource:News Corp Australia
Aidyn Johnson withdrew from the side with a slight quad strain but Cornes said it is not expected to be anything major and he’d be hopeful of playing next weekend.
It comes as Dougal Howard produced an eight-goal performance which could command his spot back in the Power’s team 12 months after he did his knee.
Howard went down while playing for the Power at Subiaco and had a reconstruction.
“He could have easily kicked a couple more but had the team-first mentality,” Cornes said.
“There’s been a bit of talk where do we want him, back or forward, and Kenny (Hinkley) made the call this week that he was going forward.
“(The decision) is based on what’s needed above, a guy like Dougal who’s got that many qualities, is quick, great overhead, uses the ball really well, can play at both ends, it can be a bit of a balancing act.
“Kenny can obviously see an opening for the AFL team so you can’t do any more than that, I thought he was really good.”
Originally published as Monfries injury to cost a fortnight
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