Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Port Adelaide utility Miles Bergman is pressing to return from injury as the Power guard against a post-Showdown hangover.
Bergman has been sidelined since hurting a toe on May 8, but appears likely to be in the selection frame for Sunday’s home clash against North Melbourne.
“He’ll increase his training load again this week,” Power assistant coach Hamish Hartlett told reporters on Tuesday.
“I anticipate that given the type of athlete that Miles is – he’s super fit, super lean, very, very professional in what he does – that if he gets through this week of training unblemished, then there would probably be a temptation to bring him straight back in.”
Bergman’s return would be another boost for Port after their upset win against arch-rivals Adelaide on Saturday night.
The unfancied 15th-placed Power stunned the fifth-placed Crows with a 26-point victory that Hartlett said was reward for effort.
“We have fallen short on a number of occasions this year,” he said.
“So to put in a really strong performance against a high-quality team, there’s no bigger wins than Showdowns in a regular season.
“It was a bit of justice and bit of reward for hard work.”
But Hartlett was mindful of post-Showdown letdowns: both South Australian clubs have routinely struggled to follow victories over their home-town rivals with another win.
“There’s always that added adrenaline and energy when you’re going into a Showdown, for sure,” Hartlett said.
“And it’s probably worth everyone having that conversation this week, putting it out there on the table rather than just kind of letting it fall by the wayside and potentially falling into that (let-down) frame of mind.
“I dare say it’s something we will address over the next couple of days to the playing group and ensuring that we’re going to this week’s game against North Melbourne with the same intent and same mindset.”
