New Port Adelaide head coach Josh Carr is out to pocket his first win at the helm on Sunday afternoon, up against an Essendon outfit desperate to break a 14-game losing streak.
The Power (0-1, 59.3%) are coming off an underwhelming 46-point loss to North Melbourne last Sunday, and have swung three changes in an immediate attempt to rectify their wrongs. Jack Lukosius is among the trio of inclusions, after having an interrupted pre-season with injury.
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Meanwhile, the travelling Bombers (0-1, 57.2%) were lucky to get away with only a 62-point loss to Hawthorn last Friday night, and welcome back small forward Isaac Kako from a hamstring niggle.
The Round 2 match begins at 2:45pm local time (3:15pm AEDT). Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), and streaming on Kayo, from 2:30pm AEDT.
DONS DEALT ‘HUGE BLOW’ BEFORE QUARTER TIME AS INJURY CRISIS REARS UGLY HEAD AGAIN
Essendon’s ugly start against Port Adelaide on Sunday afternoon got even uglier before the first break, with dashing defender Mason Redman ruled out for the remainder of the match with a knee injury.
The 28-year-old came from the field at the 22-minute mark of the first term in notable discomfort, before emerging from the changerooms not long after with a heavy bag of ice on his left knee and crutches for support.
“He limped off (in the first quarter). It’s a knee injury, and a big chunk of ice on that knee. He’s on crutches and done for the day,” Fox Footy host Kelli Underwood said at quarter time.
Four-time AFL premiership player Shaun Burgoyne added: “It’s a huge blow. An experienced player out in the first quarter, and they’re getting smashed. He’s one of the players they can least afford to lose.”
Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph reports the early diagnosis is a likely left meniscus tear, which could see Redman sidelined for at least a month.
Fellow defender Jordan Ridley (calf) is expected to return to the field next weekend after an interrupted pre-season, but Will Setterfield, Nick Bryan and Angus Clarke will all be sidelined for a while yet.
Utility Nic Martin has been ruled out of the entire 2026 season after an ACL injury in the pre-season.