Former St Kilda and North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo has praised Ken Hinkley’s ‘we’re coming’ comments

Ken Hinkley’s defiant statement his Port Adelaide side is poised to challenge for the AFL flag has been backed by St Kilda and North Melbourne champion Nick Dal Santo.

Power star Travis Boak in action during the Port Adelaide Power Intra-Club match at Alberton Oval on February 14, 2020. (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

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Ken Hinkley’s bold claim his Port Adelaide side is poised to challenge for the AFL flag has been backed by St Kilda champion Nick Dal Santo.

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The Power coach put the club’s rivals on notice last week, declaring “look out, we’re coming” and Fox Footy commentator Dal Santo is tipping Port Adelaide will be a factor come finals time.

Ken Hinkley, Senior Coach of the Power during the Port Adelaide Power Intra-Club match at Alberton Oval on February 14, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It’s not a lie. Of course they’re coming, they should have been around the mark last year and possibly the year before,” said Dal Santo, who will be joined by Collingwood Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan at The Advertiser Foundation AFL season launch at the Hilton Adelaide on March 3.

“We should actually embrace the courage and the statement from Ken - I love that sort of stuff.

“For me, particularly last year, if they had have played finals, and played somewhere near their best, they would have been competitive. I’m still optimistic about what they could be.

“I look at Port’s list and they’ve got a couple of ageing stars who are superb players, such as Travis Boak, I’m a massive fan of Robbie Gray, (Justin) Westhoff, I love Charlie Dixon.

Travis Boak in action during the Port Adelaide Power Intra-Club match at Alberton Oval on February 14, 2020. (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“I actually think they’ve got a lot of the pieces of the puzzle at the footy club and it’s just about all playing good football at the same time and getting some wins out of it.

“I like Ken Hinkley, I like the way they play their football... their inconsistency is a huge issue but I still think their best is well and truly good enough to play finals.”

Nick Dal Santo during his playing days. Picture: Hamish Blair

Triple All-Australian Dal Santo said Port Adelaide could be the only change to this year’s AFL top eight, with Richmond and West Coast his early frontrunners for the premiership.

Dal Santo said it was harder to predict the Crows’ fortunes in 2020, given their significant list and coaching changes during the off-season.

“They’re one of the sleepers, just because I don’t think we know a great deal about them,” he said.

“With Matty Nicks coming in, all the reports I’d heard prior to him going there were rave reviews, he’s a fantastic person to start with and he has some great principles and theories about football.

“With the amount of players who have left the footy club, there’s a lot of unknown. But that can be really good for a footy club, it’s almost like a reset. You can almost start again.

“This may be the rest they need and they can start refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to go.”

Crows AFLW superstar Erin Phillips will be another guest speaker at the luncheon, which will be hosted by Seven’s Mark Soderstrom, and feature a panel of The Advertiser and Sunday Mail experts including Graham Cornes, Mark Bickley, Kane Cornes, Warren Tredrea and Reece Homfray.

For tickets, call Angela Condous on 8206 2344 or email [e-mail]