AFL live scores: Fremantle Dockers come up against injury-depleted Port Adelaide

For Port Adelaide coach Josh Carr, their injury crisis has created opportunity.

“It’s been good. It’s exciting for a number of players this week. Even in the change rooms, there was a good vibe,” Carr told Fox Footy.

This update from our man on the ground at Adelaide Oval, Craig O’Donoghue:

Hayden Young might be coming back from injury but he’s not about to take it easy.

The star midfielder was the one pushing the hardest during Fremantle’s pre-game warm up.

The Dockers have incorporated intense, high speed running with multiple changes of direction into their warm up and Young was clearly in front of teammates in a sign that he is ready go hell for leather despite his recent groin injury.

Fremantle have entered Adelaide Oval, with the start of their clash with Port Adelaide now lesse than 15 minutes away.

The Dockers are in their regulation away guernsey today.

Port Adelaide’s injury woes are neatly summed up by their captaincy situation.

With both regular skipper Connor Rozee and his deputy Zak Butters sidelined by midfielder, hard-working midfielder Willem Drew will lead their side today.

Alex Pearce says not taking Port Adelaide lightly with their lengthy list of absentees has been a key focus in Fremantle’s build-up.

“I don’t think ladder position is a great indicator of how Port have been playing. Carry (coach Josh Carr) has got them playing a really good brand of footy, they’re a good defensive team and they’ve played their best when their backs have been against the wall this year against really good sides,” Pearce told Fox Footy.

“We’re expecting them to come out fierce. It’s going to be a good game.”

Hayden Young has returned to Fremantle’s side today after missing a week with a minor groin injury.

“We wanted to go back to his old role, in terms of midfield minutes, but then probably a bit deeper as a forward,” coach Justin Longmuir told Fox Footy.

“The last three or four games he’s played, he’s ended up as a high half-forward, just with our taller forwards going so well. He probably doesn’t suit the running patterns of a high forward, so we just want to make sure we get that balance right.

“With Bolts (Shai Bolton) going out of the team, he’ll play a pretty similar role to what Bolts has been playing today and make sure he feels some continuity, not only in his own games, but with the other midfielders, which has probably been lacking a bit.”

Justin Longmuir understands the intrigiue of his coaching match-up with his former teammate Josh Carr, but he doesn’t see it as significant.

“Obviously, he’s a mate, I played with him, but when it comes to the game, you don’t treat them any differently,” Longmuir told Fox Footy.

“They could definitely throw a few things at us, we’re aware of at, but there’s a few things in our game where we have control of today.

“We’ve spoken about the fact they have a few out, making sure we don’t take them lightly. We’ll see if that comes off.”

Alex Pearce is in the midst of what may be his strongest individual season yet.

And the key defender is also having a huge impact as a leader.

Port Adelaide have lost yet another player for their clash with Fremantle!

Although his absence is not as significant as Zak Butters, Jason Horne-Francis or Mitch Georgiades, three-game defender Harrison Ramm has come out of their side and been replaced by Jacob Wehr.

Remarkably, Ramm only replaced Kane Farrell in the Power’s team yesterday. The experienced left-footer was initially named in their side but was felled by a groin issue.

Fremantle will go in as named.

Mason Cox will play his 150th AFL game against the Power.

The American recruit, who headed to Fremantle after being de-listed by Collingwood last year, has a truly remarkable football story.