Print this pageSturt is poised to welcome back Port Adelaide Power-listed utility Greg Bentley for Sunday's preliminary final against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval. Bentley, who strained his hamstring training with the Double Blues earlier this month, was a late withdrawal from Sunday's convincing first semi-final win against Norwood.
But the versatile 21-year-old is expected to be passed fit this week, providing Sturt coach Rick Macgowan and his selection panel with a welcome headache.
"Bentley will be available which means we will have the whole squad to pick from," Sturt operations manager Duane Massey said. "He'll add some real strength around the footy if we can squeeze him in.
"Greg gives us some real flexibility. He can play through the midfield, he can play back, forward or on the wing. That's one of the really attractive things about having him available - that he can play multiple roles."
The Double Blues got through their commanding 71-point demolition of Norwood without any fresh injury concern. Bentley's Power team-mate Adam Thomson - who left Adelaide Oval limping on Sunday - was suffering from cramp and is certain to face the Tigers.
This means if Macgowan is to inject Bentley back into his best 21, one unlucky Sturt player will be told he must sit in the grandstand from 3.10pm on Sunday.
"It's going to be difficult," Massey said. "We've got selection tonight so we'll have a look at the side, review the game on the weekend, how the Bays went and work out what is the best line-up to go in with.
"There's obviously good form in the reserves as well - it's a nice luxury to have both sides (league and reserves) in the finals."
One player who made a compelling case to be retained was young left-footer John McDonald, the late inclusion for Bentley. McDonald, who had been patiently waiting in the reserves, booted three of his four goals in a five-minute third-quarter purple patch. "John was great. He came in and had the impact we were hoping he would have," Massey said. "He presented himself in good condition so it's going to be a very difficult selection."
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Zac Milbank