AFL LIVE: Double injury blow for Port Adelaide

St Kilda will not go away.

The Saints have now booted two in succession to close the gap to five points.

First Tim Membrey marked and goaled and then teammate Cooper Sharman nailed one on the run.

In a double-blow to Port Adelaide, Sam Powell-Pepper has been taken from the ground soon after the start of the third quarter with what looks to be a knee injury. It follows Aliir Aliir being ruled out with concussion.

Powell-Pepper jumped for a mark, but as he landed his right knee appeared to buckle. He has had ACL issues in the past.

In further worry, Port Adelaide skipper Connor Rozee has come from the ground and is sitting on the bench rubbing his hamstring.

Powell-Pepper grabbed straight for his the leg as he hit the ground.

He is now on the sidelines and has ice on the knee, and is unlikely to play again tonight. Fingers crossed that he has escaped serious injury.

As he was hobbling from the ground, Charlie Dixon marked and kicked his third goal.

Channel Seven commentator Luke Hodge believes Saints forward Jack Higgins will be in trouble with the Match Review Officer for the sling tackle that saw Aliir Aliir hit his head on the ground.

HT: Port Adelaide lead St Kilda by 10 points at half-time at Adelaide Oval after being without gun defender Aliir Aliir for the back end of the second quarter.

Aliir’s head slammed into the turf after having his right arm pinned while being dumped in a dangerous tackle from Saint Jack Higgins.

After missing nine of their first 10 shots at goal, the Power belatedly straightened up to slot their next five attempts to earn reward for effort after dominating St Kilda at stoppage and territory.

Captain and vice-captain Connor Rozee and Zak Butters have piloted Port’s resurgence, with Charlie Dixon the chief beneficiary, booting two second-quarter majors.

The Saints have attacked the corridor but been left to rue some costly cough-ups, which the Power finally capitalised on.

Charlie Dixon has booted his second after a strong pack mark 40m from goal.

Port Adelaide have found their radar and kicked five for the quarter.

Going into half-time, Power lead by 10 points.

What a passage of old-fashioned brilliance.

Willie Rioli sold some candy, and then danced between two Saints defenders before snapping a goal.

The opportunity came after Dan Houston thumped a 70m torp into Port’s forward line.

Power by four points.

Mitch Owens has kicked his second of the night and once again the Saints have hit the lead.

St Kilda has defied the run of play all night to make the most of their scoring shots.

Saints by two points.

Anthony Caminiti has hit back for the Saints with his side’s fourth of the night.

Port by four points.

St Kilda forward Jack Higgins could be in trouble after a sling tackle that saw Aliir Aliir taken from the ground and ruled out for the match with concussion.

Aliir had the ball in hand and was attempting to kick as Higgins dumped him into the ground.

Channel Seven commentator Luke Hodge believes Higgins will be in trouble with the Match Review Officer for the action.

“He pinned his arm and dumped him to the ground,” Hodge said.

Aliir was taken off the ground and into the rooms for a test. Sub Jackson Mead has been brought into the game.

It came as Port began to find the scoreboard. At the time, Mitch Georgiades was able to stroll into an open goal.

A defensive error across half-back from the Saints has created a costly turnover.

After they coughed up the ball, Power booted the ball quickly forward and it landed in the big mitts of Charlie Dixon.

Rested last week, Dixon kicked truly from 35m for his first of the night.

Power by four points.