Ken Hinkley loved Ollie Wines and Chad Wingard’s form in win over Richmond

CHAD Wingard hadn’t shied away from his sub-par form. And under the bright lights of Friday night footy, the Power star delivered. And his game wasn’t the only one Ken Hinkley loved.

Ken Hinkley was all praise for two of his stars. Pic: Getty Images

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley got his response - both from his inconsistent team and the star, Chad Wingard, who was under fire.

Less than a week after revealing its most-inconsistent face in a three-point defeat to Hawthorn, the Power defied AFL premiers Richmond by 14 points at Adelaide Oval in Friday Night Football - and Wingard delivered a game-high 31 disposals after being challenged by the critics, including club AFL premiership captain Warren Tredrea.

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And the key to Port Adelaide’s success is in contested football with this category being won 187-154.

This would have shown up more on the scoreboard had the Power not butchered its chances from 68 inside-50 entries with 1.7 in the second half after a game-breaking 7.3 in the second term.

Chad Wingard relished his role further up the field. Pic: Sarah Reed

Ken Hinkley was all smiles after the win. Pic: Getty Images

“We played a good, strong game of football,” Hinkley said. “The first half we got things the way we like them; the second half was a real battle. And anytime you can get four (premiership) points off Richmond, it is a real bonus.

“You have to work really hard to get them.”

Port Adelaide advances to 7-4 at the half-way mark of its 22-game agenda to September’s top-eight finals.

“We can’t be too critical,” Hinkley said. “We’ve lost a game (to Hawthorn) by a handful of points. We are not as consistent as we would like to be. We’re still trying to get better.

“We’ve got our contested ball in pretty good shape in the last month - that is pretty important. We are winning inside ball - and that is important to our success. We were led unbelievably in that by (vice-captain) Ollie Wines tonight.”

Ollie Wines was huge after quarter time. Pic: Sarah Reed

Wingard started as a midfielder after admitting he was struggling as a forward living to a new-look engine room after Port Adelaide’s busy gains in the October player market.

“We needed (Wingard) around the ball,” Hinkley said. “I loved how Chad did not shy away from his form being a little off - and what a way to respond.

“Both he and Ollie got questioned this week on certain different topics (Wingard on his form and Wines on his long-running contract talks with the Power). They might have just said (thumbs up),” added Hinkley making the gesture in his post-match press conference.

“Chad has a bit of pride. (And) he gives a bit more than he gets credit for,” added Hinkley arguing that Wingard’s form in the past month has been understated.

Port Adelaide reported no injury at the end of the match, despite key forward Charlie Dixon again hobbling late in the game.

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