Jarrad Redden Biography

Port Adelaide delist rookie Sam Russell, ruckman Jarrad Redden and forwards Mason Shaw and Mitch Harvey.

"I'd like to thank the boys for their hard work and we wish them all the best in the future," coach Ken Hinkley said.

"It's difficult when people leave the club at this time of year but these are the decisions that have to be made.

"All of these players will remain part of the Port Adelaide family."

Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has conceded he doubted ruckman Jarrad Redden would ever play football again.

Redden will make a long-awaited return to the senior side on Saturday night against the Sydney Swans, 679 days after he dislocated his shoulder against the Western Bulldogs in round 10, 2013.

At the time he was considered the club's primary ruckman, ahead of Matthew Lobbe.

His shoulder dislocation started a constant run of injury – he underwent five bouts of shoulder, hip and knee surgery between June and December 2013.

Further surgery was required to fix a complicated knee injury, which ended his 2014 campaign.

Hinkley said there were times he didn't think the 24-year-old would return to the game.

"There was points in the last 12 months that I'm sure Jarrad Redden thought his football career was over ... I didn't know if 'Reddo' was going to play footy again," Hinkley said.

"I thought there was a significant chance he probably wouldn't.

"When you seen his knee and what it was like and not that long ago – back in October last year – it was a significant issue for him.

"Right now I think he's probably pinching himself a little bit."

Hinkley still rated Redden's pure rucking ability as the best at Alberton and said that although significant injury worries had curbed the big man's career, they might have taught him a valuable lesson as well.

"You watch him now, he's in great shape, he just needs a bit of luck – he needed to manage himself a little bit better as well," he said.

"Going through what he's been through might be good for him.

"In all seriousness, Reddo's ruck work is as good as anyone's we have at the club, including 'Lobes'.

"He was first-choice ruck at that point [in 2013] and we were really excited about what his future may have been.

"He's in great shape, he's a big man; he's going to be a real contest for the Sydney Swans to get over."

Having helped raise $44,000 for the care of injured family friend Matt Sinclair, Port Adelaide ruckman Jarrad Redden will unlace his footy boots on Saturday and click his cycling shoes on to a bike to tackle a 220km ride in his mate's honour.

The Matt Sinclair Ride will take Redden and several former Port Adelaide players, including Brad Ebert's father Craig, 2004 premiership hero and current club physio Michael Wilson and former ruckman Barnaby French, from Adelaide's Hamstead Rehabilitation Centre to Edithburgh on the Yorke Peninsula.

Redden started the fundraiser after his sister Alycia and Matt were involved in a serious car crash early this year.

Alycia somehow escaped with only minor physical injuries when their ute rolled 50m off a dirt road into a paddock, but Matt wasn't as fortunate. He was left with a severe brain injury and unable to move without the help of others, or even talk.

An unexpected benefit for Redden from the charity ride is that as well as raising much-needed funds for a good mate, the cycling has helped his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

"I've been running on the Alter-G treadmill since the finals and I'm hoping it keeps improving over the next few weeks," he said.

"I'll let the docs and physios work out when I can run outside.

"In rehab you have rough days when you get a bit down, but all I have to do is think about how Matty's doing and where he's at and possibly what he has to deal with for the rest of his life.

"It definitely puts it in perspective."

John Butcher is out of hospital but Port Adelaide teammate Jarrad Redden will remain, with tests confirming he too has viral meningitis.

John Butcher has been admitted to hospital with viral meningitis after.

Power teammate Jarrad Redden has also been sent to hospital with similar symptoms but his diagnosis has not been confirmed.

Jarrad Redden will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing a posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction on his left knee.

"This is really disappointing for Jarrad, he's been working really hard on his rehab but the knee simply hasn't been progressing as we'd expected," Power high performance manager Darren Burgess said.

"The aim is for Jarrad to have this surgery now so he can give himself the best chance of doing a full pre-season in preparation for 2015."

Jarrad Redden will miss eight to ten weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

"This is a decision based on getting Jarrad right so he can play as much football as possible in the 2014 season," Power coach Ken Hinkley said.

"He'll now dedicate himself to his rehabilitation and work closely with our medical staff."

After enduring five operations for shoulder and hip injuries, Jarrad Redden believes he will be fully fit to take on 2014.

"Because I haven't done pretty much anything since July, I've just got to get my fitness back up," Redden said.

"At this stage I'm looking to be back into full training a bit after Christmas.

"I can see improvement, even over the last week, just starting to feel stronger again, getting back into the rhythm of training.

"I'm definitely confident [I'll be OK] for next year."

Jarrad Redden will miss the rest of the 2013 season after undergoing surgeries for his hip and shoulder.

"Given that we have made the call for him to have shoulder surgery soon, it's an opportunity to have his hip operated on now so that he is ready to resume pre-season training with the rest of the team," Power high performance manager Darren Burgess said.

"[Thursday's] surgery went well and after his imminent shoulder surgery we expect him to make a full recovery and be fit and ready for next season."

Troy Chaplin hails Jarrad Redden's effort to claim the number one ruck spot for the Power and to perform against St Kilda in round one of 2012.

"He's come from nowhere and it's just fantastic for him and his continued development," Chaplin said.

"He was superb and against a quality ruckman…(Ben) McEvoy's been around for a while and it was brilliant to see 'Reddo' stand up."

Jarrad Redden makes his AFL debut for Port Adelaide at Football Park with 12 disposals (6 kicks and 6 handballs), 3 marks, a tackle and 21 hitouts in a 4-point win over St Kilda.

Port Adelaide coach Matthew Primus says ruckman Jarrad Redden has done enough to make his debut in round one after impressing in the NAB Cup.

"He's done enough, he's played enough, he's had a good enough pre-season and his form would say he's good enough," Primus said.

"He's been terrific for us the last three weeks, we've found somebody."

Big man Jarrad Redden says he is after Port Adelaide's number one ruck spot this season.

"I've always had the confidence to one day get there," he said.

"I've worked hard over the pre-season and over the last couple of years, so I'm definitely going for that number one spot. I'm doing all I can."

Port Adelaide rookie ruckmen Jarrad Redden and Daniel Bass will be given opportunities in the 2011 NAB Cup following a shoulder injury to Matthew Lobbe.

"A couple of our rucks, Jarrad Redden, will have a run around," Power coach Matthew Primus said.

"Matthew Lobbe unfortunately dislocated his shoulder on Saturday morning so we want to have a look at Redden and Daniel Bass, one of our rookies, give them a bit of time in the ruck. It's pretty important to have a look at those guys."