Port Adelaide recruit Esava Ratugolea has lit the fuse ahead of his first meeting with Geelong, declaring he wants to “ruin” Tom Hawkins’ milestone game.
Hawkins will equal his great mate Joel Selwood on 355 games, a club record, in Friday night’s home game against the Power.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Esava Ratugolea declares he wants to ‘ruin’ Tom Hawkins’ milestone night.
Stream analysis, local footy and the biggest moments free on 7plus
The historic occasion has come at an awkward time with Hawkins on the worst run of his AFL career, goalless in four straight games for the first time.
And that will extend to five if Ratugolea, who has lost just four of his 16 contested one-on-one battles this season, gets his way.
“It’s going to be a really good milestone for him,” he told 7NEWS Adelaide.
“But we don’t shy away from the fact that we want to ruin his day, as bad as it sounds.
“It’s something I’ve saved in the calendar for a while now.
“I’m very excited about that.”
Ratugolea trained on Hawkins “a few times” after switching to defence and learned plenty from the veteran over the years.
“I was so fortunate because he was the best in the game to do that,” Ratugolea said.
“He was always open to helping me and he’s someone I’ve admired for a long time. I wish him nothing but the best really.”
Ratugolea is still close to a number of his teammates.
He isn’t quite sure whether he’ll feel any love from Cats fans but he’s willing to play along if jeers come his way.
“I hope they don’t boo me but if so, it’d be a lot of good fun,” Ratugolea said.
Ratugolea originally sought to move to Port at the end of 2022 before finally getting his wish late last year.
The 25-year-old played 16 games for Geelong last year, including the first 11, but feels more settled than ever at Alberton under senior coach Ken Hinkley.
“That’s something Ken promised me before I came here,” Ratugolea said.
“It’s really nice to have someone that backs you in as well and helps a lot with my footy, not having to worry so much about my selection.”
Ratugolea will welcome back his defensive partner Aliir Aliir (concussion) while Port will also regain Jeremy Finlayson and Josh Sinn, with Dante Visentini to take lead ruck duties in his fourth AFL game.
Finlayson will play his first AFL game since being suspended for three games for making a homophobic slur during a game a month ago.
Captain Connor Rozee (hamstring), defender Lachie Jones (hamstring), ruckman Jordon Sweet (virus) and winger Jason Burgoyne (groin) will all miss Friday night’s fixture.
“There’s a bit going on,” Hinkley told reporters at Adelaide airport on Thursday.
“We know the challenge of beating Geelong in Geelong and what it has been like for us particularly, but for every club out there.
“It’s probably still the biggest task in footy. We’d be foolish not to acknowledge the talent of the team that we come up against.
“I’m sure they have been the best-ranked team since about 2005 or 2006 … as far as evenness goes and performing at a very, very high level.”
The Power, who have won just twice from 16 attempts in away games against the Cats, hold seventh spot with five wins and three losses.
But Hinkley knows Port must improve their record against top-end teams to be rated legitimate premiership contenders.
“That’s fair and it’s obvious,” he said.
“We are five-three (win-loss), we would have liked to be a little bit better than that clearly.
“We’re not too far off the pace and not too far off the pack.
“But the reality is that as the season unfolds, you have to beat teams who are going to be a part of the finals.”
– with AAP