TonyK
CibbuanoPorplyzia pushing for selection
July 23rd 2008 23:05
ADELAIDE is considering rushing back small forward Jason Porpyzlia for Saturday night's crucial clash against Sydney at the SCG.
Porplyzia's season appeared over when he dislocated his shoulder in the Crows' 31-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG in round 15.
A medical specialist then suggested he'd be right to play after two to three weeks but just eleven days later the 23-year-old was going through his paces during a training session at AAMI Stadium on Wednesday.
Teammate Kris Massie said the coaching staff was keen to test out Porplyzia's shoulder at trianing.
"'Craigy' (coach Neil Craig) mentioned out there at training, 'if anyone wants to hold back from tackling, don't. Drive him in and really test him out.' So he actually picked out 'Trucker' (Ben Rutten) to have a crack at him," he said.
"We are serious about 'Porps' playing and I know the coaching staff will be considering him for an option up forward."
Adelaide has lost its past five matches to find itself outside the top eight for the first time since round one but Massie said Porplyzia would be striving for selection regardless of whether the team was winning or losing.
"Knowing what's happened early on in his career when unfortunately he got the chop. I think with any player you've got a real big desire and I think Porps just doesn't want to miss playing football whether we were going well or were going average, which we are at the moment," he said.
Massie also said the team was looking forward to atoning for their disappointing performance against Port Adelaide last Sunday.
"We got found out on the weekend and we are not hiding away from that. So to be able to front up against a side where that's their strength, their in and under contested football, then it's a perfect opportunity for us to rectify that and turn it around this week," he said.
Porplyzia's season appeared over when he dislocated his shoulder in the Crows' 31-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG in round 15.
A medical specialist then suggested he'd be right to play after two to three weeks but just eleven days later the 23-year-old was going through his paces during a training session at AAMI Stadium on Wednesday.
Teammate Kris Massie said the coaching staff was keen to test out Porplyzia's shoulder at trianing.
"We are serious about 'Porps' playing and I know the coaching staff will be considering him for an option up forward."
Adelaide has lost its past five matches to find itself outside the top eight for the first time since round one but Massie said Porplyzia would be striving for selection regardless of whether the team was winning or losing.
"Knowing what's happened early on in his career when unfortunately he got the chop. I think with any player you've got a real big desire and I think Porps just doesn't want to miss playing football whether we were going well or were going average, which we are at the moment," he said.
Massie also said the team was looking forward to atoning for their disappointing performance against Port Adelaide last Sunday.
"We got found out on the weekend and we are not hiding away from that. So to be able to front up against a side where that's their strength, their in and under contested football, then it's a perfect opportunity for us to rectify that and turn it around this week," he said.
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