LIVE AFL: Saint in strife for dangerous tackle, important ruck ...

Port Adelaide has been bolstered by the return of a veteran forward as it aims to rebound from a shock capitulation against Collingwood when it hosts St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

The Power (4-2, 121.2%) surrendered a 31-point lead as part of a 73-point turnaround at the MCG last Saturday and will be looking to secure their fifth win of the season to stay in touch with the top four.

Similarly, St Kilda (2-4, 89.6%) is hoping to rectify a disappointing effort of its own after folding at the hands of the Western Bulldogs last Friday.

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Port Adelaide has won seven out of eight all-time matches against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval, as well as 12 of its past 13 matches against the Saints overall.

The match gets underway at 7:40pm AEST from Adelaide Oval.

Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504), streaming on Kayo and via Hubbl from 6:30pm AEST.

MATCH UPDATES

Jackson Mead will be Port Adelaide’s sub this evening, while youngster Angus Hastie is St Kilda’s sub.

Power superstar Zak Butters is set to play his 100th game tonight and coach Ken Hinkley was full of praise pre-game on Fox Footy.

“Everyone who’s watched footy for a long time knows the best players are the most competitive and he’s the most competitive that you’ll get,” Hinkley said of his star asset.

“Zak always has to be right and he has to win, that’s why he plays his football that way, he’s fearless and courageous and everything that everyone loves in a footballer, he takes the game on.

“We’re so lucky to have him at our footy club.”

Mitch Owens kicked the opening goal of the contest after drawing a free kick for high contact.

“This is a good start for St Kilda, you need to be able to try and keep this Port Adelaide crowd quiet,” Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge said on commentary.

St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall was forced off the field and into the rooms with a knee issue.

“He looks very uncomfortable pointing to the outside of that left knee,” Abbey Holmes said on Channel 7 commentary.

“Some adjustments needing to be made on the run here,” Brian Taylor added.

Power skipper Connor Rozee kicked his side’s first, in an arm-wrestle of a first term.

The Power had plenty of chances as the quarter progressed but could not capitalise in front of goal.

It was the opposite at the other end, as Brad Hill and Matteas Phillipou kicked truly to give the Saints the lead.

St Kilda led 3.3 (21) to 1.8 (14) at quarter time.

“First order of business for the Saints is don’t get blown away and they haven’t,” James Brayshaw said.

“Just not getting their game together at the moment Port Adelaide,” Taylor added.

Sam Powell-Pepper broke a run of five straight behinds for the Power with a classy finish after the Saints turned the ball over in the back half trying to switch the ball.

Charlie Dixon, on his return after a rest last week, took a big pack mark and converted to give the Power the lead.

Jack Higgins gave away a free kick for a dangerous dump tackle on Power Aliir Aliir which is sure to draw the eye of the MRO.

“That’s what they’re trying to bring in to protect,” Hodge said.

“He’s forcefully pulled him down.”

Allir was taken from the field in the hands of the trainers to undergo a concussion test.

“The problem is Allir had no way of protecting himself,” Tigers champion Matthew Richardson said.

“If you pin the arm and bring him forcefully to the ground you’re going to be in trouble,” Hodge replied.

Mitch Georgiades got out the back to extend Port Adelaide’s lead, before Anthony Caminiti and Owens bobbed up to keep the Saints in the hunt.

Dan Houston then unleashed an epic torpedo on the run which resulted in a goal for the crafty Willie Rioli.

Dixon booted his second just before half time to give the Power a 6.9 (45) to 5.5 (35) lead.

“I feel for Higgins,” Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis said on Fox Footy’s half-time show.

“If Aliir Aliir understands that he’s being tackled and doesn’t then try to kick the ball then there’s probably no case to answer for.

“If you’re looking at what player’s contribute to that, I think it’s 50/50, I think Allir contributes 50% of that force by going to the ground trying to dispose the ball.”

“It’s a very interesting point, I thought that Higgins would get a week every day, but the fact that he tried to kick the footy means he was more off balance than he perhaps would’ve been,” Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said.

“I would love that to be the case, but the fact is that the duty of care is slated to the tackler, which means Higgins is responsible for any negative impact of it,” Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley added.

“I understand all that, I just think it’s a little different because the kicking of the ball comes in… it may not mean anything but I do think that the fact that his legs came up to kick the ball adds to the momentum,” Lyon said.

Allir Allir was subbed out of the contest following the incident and substitute Jackson Mead entered the game.

The injury carnage continued for the Power as forward Sam Powell-Pepper went down clutching his knee after a marking contest.

“He grabbed at that knee straight away and he has had ACL issues in the past,” Holmes said.

“Fingers crossed it doesn’t go there.”

“He was in absolute agony straight away.

“You hate seeing when they grab it straight away like that,” Richardson added.

Dixon got the first major of the second half before the Saints responded with the next three.

Meanwhile, the Power had another injury scare as captain Connor Rozee came to the bench clutching his hamstring.

After being deep in discussions with club doctors, Rozee went back on the ground.

Willie Rioli slotted his second before Kane Farrell found Darcy Byrne-Jones inside 50.

From one camera angle, the ball looked to be well out of bounds before Byrne-Jones marked it.

“Even Byrne-Jones thought it was out and he’s the one that took the mark,” Taylor said.

“Oh no… the field umpire was waiting for the boundary umpire whistle and it never came.

“Boy, there’s going to be a bit of hoo ha about this one.”

“Byrne-Jones’ body language looked like he thought it was on the full as well,” Richardson added.

Reverse angle replays indicated that perhaps the decision wasn’t as clear cut as first thought.

“That’s in play, that’s a good decision,” Hodge said.

“I don’t know Hodgey,” Taylor argued.

However, the Power utility kicked truly to give his side a 9.13 (67) to 8.6 (54) lead at the final change.

The Saints activated their sub with Angus Hastie replacing Cooper Sharman (tactical).

Despite returning to play momentarily in the third quarter, Power captain Connor Rozee iced his hamstring up at three-quarter-time and took no further part in the contest.

Lyon called on the Saints to “run them (Port Adelaide) ragged” in the final term.

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