Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Port Adelaide ace Jason Horne-Francis is “touch and go” to face Melbourne this weekend despite dodging a major injury bullet.
Horne-Francis hobbled off the ground after clutching at his knee during the loss to Sydney on Saturday afternoon.
Scans determined the damage was bone bruising, but he remains in the hands of the medical team ahead of the Demons.
“He’ll be touch and go this week, obviously with a little bit of bone bruising when that happens for anyone,” Power assistant coach Stuart Dew said on Monday.
“But from where we thought it could’ve been from when he came off, it’s a great result.
“You see how it settles down, like a normal game under any circumstance it will end up being a medical call.
“I am sure he will want to play, but we’ll see how it settles down the next couple of days and once he gets moving we’ll get a little bit more information.”
The medical team will also have a say in Zak Butters’ hopes of returning against Essendon in the final round of the season.
Butters – who suffered a syndesmosis injury in Round 18 – is widely expected to return to Victoria this off season, meaning Round 24 could shape as a farewell match.
Dew joked the positive hype around Butters’ return could be coming from the star midfielder himself, saying there would be “no risk taken” in rushing him back early.
“He’s pushing to try and get back and I think that’s a good mindset but again, there will be no risk taken,” Dew said.
“In terms of the side, he’s going to have to have put in a bit of work on the training track and at the moment he’s still getting up and running.
“It’ll be, not a miracle, but again just a medical call at the end of the day to see how he’s going, but there’s no need to rush.
“He’s got another week or so to continue to get moving and try to get back into training but no risk will be taken.”
Port Adelaide remains highly unlikely to move from 15th position on the AFL ladder across the final two weeks after Gold Coast Suns defeated GWS on Sunday.
