Port Adelaide have cleared Paddy Ryder of serious injury after the ruckman had hurt an ankle in a 17-point loss to Adelaide in an AFL pre-season game.
Ryder limped from the field with just minutes remaining in Saturday’s fixture at Port Pirie which the Crows won 16.10 (106) to 14.5 (89).
Ryder rolled his right ankle in a ruck contest but coach Ken Hinkley said the injury was “nothing major”.
Ryder was the sole injury scare in a match featuring four goals to Adelaide veteran Eddie Betts in 40-degree heat.
Betts, Matt Crouch and his brother Brad, Rory Sloane and Rory Laird were all prominent for the Crows.
Sloane, appointed co-captain this year with Taylor Walker, collected 28 disposals, Matt Crouch had 32 touches and sibling Brad, who missed all of last season because of groin problems, collected 29 possessions.
Laird (28 possessions) was superb in defence and forwards Tom Lynch, Darcy Fogarty and Riley Knight each booted two goals.
Port kicked four of the initial five goals but then a slick Adelaide outfit seized control.
The Crows led by 36 points midway through the last quarter before Port finished with a flurry.
The Power’s reigning club champion Justin Westhoff, Steven Motlop, Brad Ebert and their top pick at last year’s draft, Connor Rozee, kicked two goals each.
Another of Port’s highly rated draftees, Zak Butters, was a standout with 25 disposals and fellow newcomer Xavier Duursma kicked a goal.
Defender Dan Houston gained 21 disposals and Travis Boak, having stood down as captain this year, was busy with 27 touches.
Port’s new signing Scott Lycett, who arrived after winning last year’s premiership with West Coast, had the 24 hit-outs – the most of any player – while former Hawthorn halfback Ryan Burton collected 17 disposals.