The finals wildcard that Port Adelaide could pull against Geelong

Sometimes finals can be won by making a significant positional switch or a huge selection decision.

Let’s call it the ‘finals wildcard’.

Port Adelaide hosts Geelong in a Qualifying Final at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night and there is one potential move that could help fill a void for the Power.

It centres around captain Connor Rozee who has the ability to cover for absent pair Dan Houston and Kane Farrell as a damaging half-back flanker.

Rozee averages Port’s second most disposals at 24.5 behind Zak Butters’ 28.6, while rating in the top few at the club for clearances, score involvements and inside 50, he could perhaps provide a spark out of defence.

Power great Kane Cornes has thrown up this potential move given Rozee had just 19 touches in Round 24 and was drafted as a rebounding defender.

“The finals wildcard for me, with Farrell and Houston out - Connor Rozee was drafted as a half-back,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“The 2018 SANFL Grand Final as an 18-year-old, he dominated across half-back. He is very good aerially and does give you that zip and change of movement.

“With Ollie Wines and Willem Drew and Jason Horne-Francis and Zak Butters and the emergence of Jackson Mead and Miles Bergman on the wing, I think they can afford to do something a little bit different with Rozee, who's not going great.

“He’s not in great form. I wouldn't mind seeing him across half-back because I'm looking at it going they were such weapons for them, Houston and Farrell across half- back.

“Rozee’s played there before, he was recruited from North Adelaide as a half-back. Just go watch his 2018 Grand Final in the SANFL.

“I think that's something that Ken Hinkley may have up his sleeve, and he could use as a bit of a surprise move in this game.”

Cornes acknowledges that the Power do hold the cards given they are in winning form with six in a row and eight of their last nine.

So starting Rozee back is not completely necessary, but certainly is an option if needed.

“I don't think he’ll start that way,” he added.

“The other thing is Port Adelaide have won eight out their last nine, they're in really good form, Conor Rozee’s the captain and you want to start him forward, you want to start him where the action is and he can do a lot of damage centre-forward.

“But I'm going OK, well, he's done it before, there's clearly a position there that needs to be filled, and I think he's run and carrying and his zip across half-back as well as his aerial prowess as well, I think that's something that they could explore.”

David King, however, does not see eye to eye with that proposed shift.

He believes the small to medium forwards at the Cats including Tyson Stengle, Brad Close, Gryan Miers and Ollie Dempsey could cause headaches for Hinkley if there is not enough defensive pressure.

“I do hear people talking about Rozee going to half-back, I think that would be an error,” King said on SEN’s Whateley.

“Because you’ve actually got to defend these guys. It’s really difficult when they come at speed to go back with them.

“And you’re giving up a playmaker who is a centre-forward star.”

The Power and the Cats clash at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday night from 7:40pm AEST (7:10pm local time).