Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley rules out WA young gun Mitch Georgiades for preliminary final

Port Adelaide have ruled out emerging forward Mitch Georgiades from Saturday night’s AFL preliminary final against the Western Bulldogs.

The Power say lingering doubt over the 19-year-old’s injured hamstring prompted the decision.

The attacker was substituted out of Port’s last home-and-away game, a two-point triumph against the Bulldogs.

Georgiades missed the Power’s qualifying final victory over Geelong but returned to action in state league ranks last weekend.

“Although he pulled up well after the match, he has not recovered sufficiently to be able to compete at AFL level this week,” the Power said in a statement on Thursday.

Port will announce their side for the grand final qualifier later on Thursday but appear set to take an unchanged line-up into the knockout final.