18th Apr 2012
  
Preview: Port Adelaide v Central Districts
By Roscoe Whalan
Port Adelaide will look to bounce back this weekend at home after a 41-point loss to Norwood on Sunday.
The Bulldogs finally broke their losing streak in 2012 with a 44-point victory over South but will face a Port Adelaide side determined to notch its second win for the year and consign the Bulldogs to one of its worst premiership starts in recent memory.
Backing up at Alberton again, the Magpies have just six days to prepare for the match following their opening home game against Norwood last weekend.
On Sunday, the Magpies were slow out of the gate before clawing their way back to within 7 points behind inspired efforts from Shayne Biacsi, Callum Wilson and Steven Summerton.
But the Magpies were exhausted after the comeback and could only manage the one point in the final quarter as Norwood piled on five goals.
The Magpies will be up against it this weekend as Luke Harder, Mitch Banner and Josh Thurgood nurse injuries after last weekend’s game. The Magpies haven't beaten Central Districts in the Bamford-era but are looking to change things on Saturday.
Port Adelaide will have to keep the blistering form of former Power player Brad Symes in check – he averaging over 30 disposals over the first three games.
On the other hand, Port will be looking to get more out of forward-recruit Callum Wilson who dominated the pre-season but is yet to find his groove when it's really mattered.
"Wilson is the one that's got to get out of this hole that he's in," Coach Tony Bamford said.
The match will kick off at 2:10pm at Alberton Oval on Saturday, with reserves commencing at 11.25am.
Tickets are available at the gate for $14 for adults, $8 for concession holders and children under 18 years admitted free.
League Team
F: Clayton, Ebert, Mercer
HF: Rose, Wilson, McKenzie
C: Dolling, Summerton, Biacsi
HB: Slattery, Beard, Hoskin
B: Stanley, Erskine, Madden
Ruck: Meiklejohn, Kirkwood, Gray
Int: from Cockshell, Kulikowski, Young, Grove, Brain
In: Stanley, Mercer, Grove, Brain
Out: Banner (knee), Thurgood (ankle)
Reserves
Ah Chee, Brain, Broomhead, Burnett, DePrinse, Grove, Haren, Heath, Heffernan, Hyland, Nyskohus, Raikiwasa, Sandercock, Scanlon, Shannon, Sharpe, Sharrad, Solly, Watt, A Wilson, L Wilson, Wellington
Under 18
Hales, Tiller, Johansen, Hawkins, O'Neill, Haarsma, Lemmens, Hassouros, Davidson, J Sandercock, Lakin, Merrett, McInerney, Goldsworthy, Sawford, Baker, Reed, Clements, Keeley, McIntyre, MvCafferty, Corcoran, Reynolds, Kelly, T. Sandercock, Barns.
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