Coach Ken Hinkley flags positional changes as Port Adelaide gets into game mode with internal trial at Alberton
“There are some experiments to go on,’’ says coach Ken Hinkley as Port Adelaide gears up for round one with an internal trial at Alberton Oval.
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Dan Houston a permanent midfielder, Connor Rozee and Zak Butters to see more on-ball time, Sam Powell-Pepper to become a forward line wrecking ball, Kane Farrell on the wing and Brad Ebert to return to the centre square.
They are some of the key positional moves Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has flagged as the club on Friday takes the next big step in its pre-season preparation with an internal trial at Alberton Oval.
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After Hinkley on Wednesday shocked the football world by boldly declaring Port, which has missed the finals in consecutive years, was capable of winning the flag in its 150th season this year, he outlined some positional moves the club will trial before round one.
Revealing one-time defender Houston would be a “lock’’ to remain in the midfield after being a revelation there in the second half of last season, Hinkley said “there are some experiments to go on’’.
“Brad will get a little more time on ball than he did last year (when he played in attack) and (midfielder) ‘Pep’ will certainly spend some more time forward to create some intensity in our front half that puts the opposition under pressure and makes them be a bit fearful of who’s around because ‘Pep’ can be a bit dangerous when he’s out there,’’ he said.
“There will be that sort of stuff, there will be opportunities for people to play slightly different roles.
“(Small forward) Farrell will come up and play a bit of wing and (second-year forwards) Rozee and Butters will have a look at the midfield more.’’
Hinkley said Port would enter its first serious hitout of 2020 in a “great position’’, with only two players unavailable through injury – former co-captain Ollie Wines, who has had shoulder surgery after being hurt in a training collision with Powell-Pepper and will miss the start of the season, and first-year father-son midfielder Jackson Mead, who has a minor hamstring strain.
“We’re in a great spot, we’ve got a really healthy list, 43 available, which is encouraging,’’ he said.
Hinkley said former Demon Jack Watts – on the comeback from a badly broken leg that ended his 2019 season after round two – would play but was “still feeling his way a little bit’’.
He said Port would rotate about 50 players through the trial, with some Magpies-contracted players making up the numbers.
An upbeat Hinkley – fighting for his coaching job this year after leading Port to the finals just once in the past five seasons – called on fans to flock to Alberton for the 5.30pm contest to watch the club’s exciting batch of youngsters strut their stuff.
After the standout debut years of 2018 first-round draft picks Rozee, Butters and Xavier Duursma, Hinkley is predicting strong first-up seasons from top 2019 selections Miles Bergman, Mitch Georgiades, Dylan Williams and Mead.
“I guarantee if you’re a Port Adelaide person and you’re supporting us strongly, you’ll want to get down here Friday and have a look because there’s a fair bit to look at,” he said.
“We had the three boys last year that were really exciting. Well there is some stuff going on out there on the training track that is as equally as exciting.
“I’m talking about the boys we drafted, and even young Jake Pasini, who we drafted on the rookie list, is doing some really nice stuff at training
“Most of the people have seen Mitch take a few grabs, which is pretty exciting. He’s a bit of a highlights reel, so we look forward to creating a few of them.”
Hinkley put the blowtorch on his men to perform in the pre-season, saying round one spots were up for grabs.
“We’ve shown in the past 12 months particularly that if you play well, you get picked, but if you don't, you don’t get picked,’’ he said.
“If you are not locking away your spot now, you are taking a risk, so there’s a bit on the line.’’