AFL Gather Round 2023: All the latest Port Adelaide ahead of Bulldogs clash
Dropped? Injured? Both? Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley responds to the Tom Jonas speculation ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster.
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Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley says captain Tom Jonas was not omitted for the Power’s huge Gather Round clash against the Western Bulldogs, rather he was managed with a knee issue to “give him the best chance to be his best”.
But Hinkley says Jonas “isn’t at his absolute best form” and he could push on “to a point” with his knee complaint.
The Power captain was one of two changes for the Power’s Saturday night blockbuster against the Bulldogs with Jackson Mead also coming out of the side.
Mead was listed as omitted, while Jonas was listed as “managed - knee” when the Power announced their team on Thursday, with Ryan Burton returning after a two-match suspension and Darcy Byrne-Jones after he was the sub against Sydney.
On Friday, Hinkley said Jonas had been down on form but he had not been dropped.
“No he was not dropped, he was managed, he has just a bit of a grumbly knee,” he said.
“For Tom at this stage of his career that is probably not an unusual thing to happen.
“It is clear that he isn’t at his absolute best form but he is our captain and we respect that.
“He would never be the person to use this as an excuse but we need to sometimes protect him from himself because he is such a great person for this footy club.”
Hinkley said the Power hoped the week off would help Jonas return to his best.
“Well you could push on to a point but you aren’t giving him the best chance to be his best, that is the difference,” he said.
“And we want to give him the best chance to be his best.”
Jonas’ start to the season has been scrutinised externally.
Former Power AFL games record holder Kane Cornes said the form of Jonas was “a bit of an elephant in the room” for his old club.
Hinkley said Jonas wasn’t paying attention to what was being said about his start to the season.
“He is a resilient person, he doesn’t worry about the outside stuff,” he said.
“He worries about what he can control.”
Hinkley said the Power might have to consider managing vice-captain Ollie Wines as he deals with a leg issue.
“Ollie has been dealing with a bit of an issue himself... there may come a time where we need to look after that,” he said.
“It is not his knee. He has a calf that is a bit sore, that is what is wrong with Ollie.
“It is his other leg.”
With a game before – Essendon v Melbourne, –and heavy rain forecasted for Saturday, the Power could be taking on the Bulldogs in potentially difficult conditions at Adelaide Oval.
But Hinkley said it wouldn’t be an issue for his side.
“I’ve fallen into this trap a few times, expecting the weather to do something it doesn’t do,” he said.
“We will be well prepared, conditions won’t be an issue.”
Power suffer massive blow down back for Dogs clash
- Matt Turner
Port Adelaide has been dealt a blow for its Gather Round clash against the Western Bulldogs, losing captain Tom Jonas to injury.
Jonas will miss Saturday night’s home match due to knee soreness but the return of defender Ryan Burton from a two-game suspension should help mitigate his absence.
Half-back Darcy Byrne-Jones returns to the 22 after having an important influence late as the substitute in last week’s thrilling win over Sydney at the SCG.
Midfielder Jackson Mead has been omitted.
Two-gamer Dylan Williams holds his spot after impressing in defence against the Swans.
Mead is among the emergencies with forward Mitch Georgiades, defender Tom Clurey and wingman Riley Bonner.
Both clubs enter the game outside of the top eight with a 2-2 record.
The Bulldogs have won three of their past four matches at Adelaide Oval, including the barnstorming 71-point triumph in the 2021 preliminary final against the odds.
Eighteen months on, Saturday night’s meeting shapes as a key test for the Power’s major round credentials in 2023.
For all the negativity around Port Adelaide’s season on the back of its 71-point defeat to Collingwood at the MCG and Showdown fade out, a 3-2 start would provide the club with a strong platform for the remainder of the campaign.
The Power has had a tough opening draw, facing three of last year’s four preliminary finalists, along with the Dogs and the improved Crows.
After Saturday night, the next month of its fixture looks more manageable on paper.
Port Adelaide hosts struggling West Coast, before a tough match against a red-hot St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, then faces Essendon (home) and last year’s wooden-spooner North Melbourne in Launceston.
Hit form through that period and the Power can put itself in the frame for finals and reduce some of the external heat on coach Ken Hinkley.
On Wednesday, Power interceptor Aliir Aliir said “it’s not round 20 or 21 so I can’t understand why everyone is losing control”.
“Footy is a long season,” Aliir said.
“You lose one or two but there is a chance to get another one back.
“We are backing Ken. He is a great coach for us.”
The Bulldogs will be without defenders Alex Keath (concussion) and Hayden Crozier (back), as well as midfielder Bailey Smith (calf) on Saturday night.
Swingman Tim O’Brien, backman Taylor Duryea and goalsneak Cody Weightman come into the line-up.
PORT ADELAIDE v WESTERN BULLDOGS
Saturday April 15, 7:50pm at Adelaide Oval
POWER
B: A.Aliir, R.Burton, T.McKenzie
HB: D.Byrne-Jones, X.Duursma, D.Houston
C: T.Boak, W.Drew, M.Bergman
HF: J.McEntee, D.Williams, S.Powell-Pepper
F: J.Rioli, C.Dixon, T.Marshall
FOLL: S.Lycett, C.Rozee, Z.Butters
I/C: K.Farrell, J.Horne-Francis, O.Wines - C, J.Finlayson
EMG: T.Clurey, J.Mead, R.Bonner, M.Georgiades
IN: R.Burton
OUT: T.Jonas (injured), J.Mead (omitted)
BULLDOGS
B: J.Johannisen, L.Jones, T.O’Brien
HB: B.Dale, J.Bruce, E.Richards
C: O.Baker, M.Bontempelli - C, B.Williams
HF: M.Hannan, J.Ugle-Hagan, C.Weightman
F: A.Jones, A.Naughton, R.Lobb
FOLL: T.English, T.Liberatore, A.Treloar
I/C: T.Duryea, C.Daniel, J.Macrae, A.Scott
EMG: L.McNeil, T.McLean, J.Sweet, B.Khamis
IN: T.O’Brien, T.Duryea, C.Weightman
OUT: R.McComb (omitted), A.Keath, B.Smith, H.Crozier (all injured)
‘THIS IS GOING IN’: PORT HERO REVEALS SHOCK OF STIRRING SYDNEY VICTORY
-- Jon Ralph
Port Adelaide game-winning hero Aliir Aliir says Callum Mills did not cost Sydney the game by deserting the goal line, saying he would have “run through” his former teammate anyway to spoil Ollie Florent’s shot at goal.
Aliir on Tuesday backed Ken Hinkley as the club’s long-term coach but said the Power needed to reprise that style of play to beat the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
He said the Power had to prove they had the consistency to back up that performance after a rollercoaster of a start to the season.
Former Swans defender Allir was able to launch at Florent’s set shot from 45 metres out without a Sydney opponent after Mills sprinted forward off the goal line in celebration.
That decision meant Aliir was not blocked out of the marking contest but he made clear nothing would have stopped him from spoiling that contest.
“I haven’t spoken to (Mills). But to be fair, it looked like I was going in, from where we were. Because I had my hands on my hip. As soon as Ollie marked it, he is a great set shot kicker and he flushed it pretty well. I said, “This is going in”. It dropped at the last second and I was able to get there.
“Even if Millsy wasn’t there, if he was or wasn’t there I was going to run through him anywhere. As soon as Ollie marked it I was saying, “I hope he misses it, I hope he shanks it”.
“As soon as the path cleared I thought I had my chance to get it. And I said, “I am going to punch the shit out of it and send it back the other way”. I was able to get it.”
Port Adelaide has made clear it will not make a decision on Ken Hinkley’s tenure until August and Aliir said the timeline gave the club plenty of time to make a strong finals tilt.
“Yeah, 100 per cent we are backing Ken all the way. We love him as a coach and person.
“Ever since he’s coached me, he’s been a great family man for myself. And it’s only round 4. It’s not round 20 or 21 so I can’t understand why everyone is losing control.
“Footy is a long season. You lose one or two but there is a chance to get another one back. We are backing Ken in all the way. He is a great coach for us.”
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