Port hold on despite injury crisis deepening in minutes

The injury crisis has quickly deepened at Port Adelaide, with forward Sam Powell-Pepper ruled out with a knee injury during their 10-point win over St Kilda, with captain Connor Rozee also put on ice with a hamstring complaint.

Powell-Pepper went down in the third term after attempting to jump and mark a ball in the Power's forward 50.

It was an innocuous incident that saw him fall to the ground and grab his right knee in agony.

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Powell-Pepper was immediately rushed off to be treated by club doctors, helped off by two trainers to reach the bench.

He was assessed but after a few minutes, was seen putting on his warm up jacket and applying ice to that knee.

A devastated Port Adelaide bench with Aliir, Powell-Pepper and Rozee all off injured.

"The ice is on for Powell-Pepper," Abbey Holmes said on 7.

But the carnage didn't stop their for the home side.

Just minutes later in front of Port Adelaide's bench, Power captain Rozee jumped for a ball heading over the boundary line and landed awkwardly on his hamstring.

He attempted to play on but looked extremely proppy, before being dragged at three-quarter time and officially put on ice.

A devastated Port Adelaide bench with Aliir, Powell-Pepper and Rozee all off injured.

It left the Power with just one man on the bench, with the two leg injuries following key defender Aliir Aliir's concussion in the second term.

Saint Jack Higgins will likely face MRO scrutiny for a dangerous sling tackle that ruled Aliir out of the match.

Allir was chasing a bouncing ball that fell short in St Kilda's forward 50, grabbing it mid air and attempting to throw it on his boot.

https://twitter.com/AFL/status/1783819543539835060

Higgins then wrapped Aliir up in a half tackle, slinging him around and dumping him into the turf by pulling his arm down.

Aliir was hurt by the tackle, staying down on the ground for a few seconds in agony, before behind helped up by a trainer.

It's Powell-Pepper's second game back this season, after being ruled out for the first four weeks of the Power's season for a dangerous bump.

Powell-Pepper was referred straight to the AFL tribunal after his shoulder collided with the head of Adelaide player Mark Keane during a pre-season game in February on the eve of the season proper.

Aliir was sling to the ground by Higgins.

Meantime, the Power decided to take no risks with Aliir, after the club came under scrutiny last season for allowing him to play on after suffering a scary concussion against Adelaide.

Despite losing three stars over the second and third quarters, the Power managed to hold on for an impressive win with just one on the bench, giving them a 5-2 record heading into round eight.

The Saints will again be searching for answers, sitting with a 2-5 record.

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