AFL Round 2 power rankings: Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s long game unfolding
DOUGAL Howard, Todd Marshall and Riley Bonner were the three most contentious selections in Port Adelaide’s team for last year’s elimination final. But Ken Hinkley’s faith in his youngsters is already paying dividends.
Reece Homfray
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DOUGAL Howard, Todd Marshall and Riley Bonner were the three most contentious selections in Port Adelaide’s team for last year’s elimination final.
One was playing his 10th game, one his fifth and the other his third in the Power’s biggest of the season where there were no second chance.
Coach Ken Hinkley was widely questioned and — after the result — criticised although it was hardly the fault of youth when the side kicked 10.16 and lost after the siren in extra time.
Jackson Trengove, Aaron Young and Brendon Ah Chee missed out and have all since left the club.
Hinkley would have believed in his young and emerging stars but he was also playing the long game.
Only the long game suddenly isn’t looking so long any more. It’s unfolding right now.
Bonner, Howard and Marshall have all played in Port Adelaide’s first two games for two wins this season and had a big impact.
Bonner won the Round 1 Rising Star nomination, Marshall has kicked an outstanding 7.1 and Howard has read the play like a veteran.
Right there, Port Adelaide could be looking at its centre-half-forward and centre-half-back for the next 10 years.
At one stage in Sunday’s win over the Swans, Marshall (5 games) was being stood by Heath Grundy (239 games) and Howard (12 games) was on Buddy Franklin (272 games). Yet they looked at home even if they weren’t feeling it.
Hinkley’s faith in his young players knows no limits. He was brave enough to play them in last year’s elimination final and brave enough to trust them with big jobs against Sydney at the SCG.
All the talk about Port Adelaide this season was they’d gone all-in and were suddenly a premiership contender because they’d recruited Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop and Jack Watts, and they will make the team better. But the reason Port Adelaide is on top of The Advertiser’s Power Rankings after Round 2 is because of improvement from within.
Marshall, Bonner and Howard have shined, Wines and Boak have starred and the new guys to the club are in no doubt of what is expected from them.
GOOD WEEKEND FOR ...
Key forwards. Small forward lines were all the rage after the Tigers won the flag but Tom Lynch, Buddy Franklin and Josh Jenkins have made their point so far this year.
ONE TO FORGET FOR ...
The Western Bulldogs. They’ve lost contested possession by a combined 47 in two games and look a shadow of the side that won the 2016 premiership against the Swans.
BURNING QUESTION
Can Hawthorn win the flag? Some punters didn’t even have them in their top eight this year but could anything be possible after yesterday’s result against the Cats.
ROUND 2 POWER RANKINGS
All 18 teams are assessed and ranked every week based on form to chart the movers and sliders throughout the season.
1. PORT ADELAIDE
Huge win that barely anyone would have predicted although shouldn’t be overly surprised by. Last week I was calling for Billy Frampton but loved Dixon’s influence in the middle just didn’t think that would be the Power’s preferred option.
2. HAWTHORN
Massive win for the Hawks that puts them second on the rankings after beating Collingwood and Geelong.
3. GWS
Good win against Collingwood in Melbourne and without Tom Scully who did his ankle in the first quarter.
4. GEELONG
Amazing to think Dan Menzel and Geelong took until October to finalise a one-year deal.
5. GOLD COAST
‘Wouldn’t surprise me to see a sharp spike at the Suns with Stuart Dew in charge’ I wrote in the pre-season rankings. North Melbourne and Carlton are hardly premiership fancies but the Suns are 2-0 and playing hard, tough footy.
6. ADELAIDE
It will never erase the pain of the grand final but the Crows were under a mountain of pressure last week and showed some ticker. Can’t see Fogarty or Murphy giving up their spots in a hurry either.
7. SYDNEY
Very impressive in grinding out a win over the Eagles then faded badly in the second half against Port Adelaide at home.
8. RICHMOND
Can’t be up every week but the defending premier better get used to being the hunted this season.
9. MELBOURNE
A win is a win but it does take some of the gloss off it when you make hard work of it against Brisbane.
10. ESSENDON
Plenty gave them a chance going to Perth to play Fremantle but couldn’t get it done. Merrett well held and lost stoppages.
11. FREMANTLE
Decent response to what was an abysmal first up effort against the Power in Adelaide. Nat Fyfe showed his class and also pride in the jumper.
12. WEST COAST
Responded to a disappointing loss at home by beating the Bulldogs who are only just going, but it was a win in Melbourne.
13. NORTH MELBOURNE
Had all but written the Kangaroos off after one round and they hit back hard on Good Friday and Ben Brown has truly arrived.
14. ST KILDA
Most disappointing loss of the round. Went into Good Friday footy as the hot favourites with serious finals potential and were smacked.
15. COLLINGWOOD
Winless start will only turn up the pressure, although Hawthorn and GWS was a tough start and now they get Carlton.
16. CARLTON
Never looked like it against Gold Coast after really pushing Richmond the week before.
17. BRISBANE
Fought so hard to get back level with Melbourne after a horrible start but couldn’t go on with it.
18. WESTERN BULLDOGS
Wouldn’t normally react like this after Round 2 but I’d be reaching for that panic button at the Dogs.
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