The sight of two Adelaide players brawling at training doesn’t surprise the captain of their AFL arch rivals Port Adelaide.
Crows duo Kyle Hartigan and Billy Frampton, who was recruited from the Power traded punches at a training session last Saturday.
“It’s not unusual in our industry,, obviously fiercely competitive,” Port skipper Tom Jonas said before the clash of the South Australian rivals on Saturday.
“Bill has got a little big of niggle in him so it’s no surprise that something like that might happen at training.
“We have had our own scuffles from time to time, probably nothing that has escalated to that level, but the boys get under each others skins, it’s just what we do.”
Port host the Crows at Adelaide Oval in the derby clash dubbed the Showdown, before both clubs head into a hub on the Gold Coast for at least the next three weeks.
Port, courtesy of an opening-round 47-point win against Gold Coast, have held top spot during the competition’s suspension due to the coranavirus pandemic.
But Jonas said top billing now counted for little.
“To be honest, it doesn’t really stand for much now, it’s basically a reset on the season,” he said.
“Besides having a little head start on the premiership table, it’s as good as round one again.
“And going into a Showdown, form traditionally means nothing.
“There’s a lot of unknowns surrounding it but at the end of the day there’s going to be 18 blokes on the field for each side and there’s going to be a footy to be won and goals to be kicked.
“It will feel like normal pretty quickly, I reckon.”
While there’s suggestions a small crowd may be permitted into Adelaide Oval to watch the match, Jonas pleaded for Port’s now-traditional lead-up song to be played before the opening siren.
In past years, the INXS song Never Tear Us Apart has been played before the first siren.
“It’s part of the fabric of our home games,” Jonas said.
“I would be disappointed if we didn’t hear that before the game, it always sends a shiver down the spine.
“It might not be quite the same but it’s part of our ritual and means a lot to both the players and the supporters.
“I hope they play it.”
