Ken Hinkley has to make tough calls on fringe Port Adelaide players

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley needs to make some tough decisions on fringe players as he prepares for the AFL draft.

SANFL, Port Adelaide v South Adelaide at Alberton Oval. [PIC] Port's Andrew Moore picture: Bianca De Marchi

PORT Adelaide closed the AFL trade period with no exits from Alberton — not even the much-speculated sale of lead ruckman Matthew Lobbe.

And after bringing in two recruits — Gold Coast forward Charlie Dixon and Melbourne midfielder Jimmy Toumpas — the Power now faces tough decisions on the players it could not move in the trade talks.

Aaron Young, who is on contract for next season, was chased by St Kilda, in particular Saints coach Alan Richardson who worked at Alberton in 2013. But St Kilda’s trade plays seem to have been hurt by the protracted dealings with Essendon for key defender Jake Carlisle.

Andrew Moore, a No. 9 draft pick in 2009, is out of contract. He did not have a major suitor in the trade period.

Lobbe, 26, did carry major interest despite Port Adelaide — and coach Ken Hinkley — insisting it would not trade the vice-captain.

But the Power felt compelled on Wednesday to tell Lobbe of the overtures from the Western Bulldogs who were parcelling draft picks that allowed the Power to return to the first round of the AFL draft for the first time since 2012 with call No. 11.

Lobbe, who is on contract to the end of the 2019 season, chose to stay at Port Adelaide. He could not work through the Bulldogs’ option without meeting coach Luke Beveridge and touring The Kennel.

That was impractical while Lobbe is on holiday in Vietnam.

Hinkley insists he can play both Lobbe and Essendon ruckman-forward Patrick Ryder in the same 22-man line-up.

And the Power may appreciate Lobbe’s decision to not explore a trade if Ryder cops a ban from the Essendon supplements saga that is reviewed by the WADA appeal to Court of Arbitration in Sport next month.

Port Adelaide has locked two picks in the AFL national draft in Adelaide on Tuesday, November 24 — a call in the second round at 32 and in the third round at 49.

Port Adelaide traded draft picks — 10, 29, 50, 68 and a 2016 second-round call — to Gold Coast, Melbourne and Richmond.
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