Ken Hinkley says Kane Farrell has potential to become Power’s version of Docker Michael Walters

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley believes young talent Kane Farrell has the potential to be as good as Fremantle star Michael Walters with some hard work.

Port Adelaide’s Kane Farrell tackles Fremantle’s Michael Walters during the round 13 AFL match at Optus Stadium. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos/Getty Images.

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Michael Walters is a freak forward and Kane Farrell could be.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has seen it all in football — and is discerning with praise — but forecasts a grand path for Farrell with hard yakka.

Farrell booted four goals from six kicks for Port, without the same support Jesse Hogan (three) provided Walters for six match-winning majors in Fremantle’s 21-point win on Saturday.

“He has some AFL traits that are really important. He has some speed and great finish,” said Hinkley of Farrell who booted three goals in his second game against Adelaide last August.

“We have seen a really experienced player in Walters do something similar at the other end and we look at a very young Kane Farrell and think and hope at one stage of his career he may be able to do some of those sorts of things in big games as well.

“He has an enormous way to go and a lot to work on. He is young and very inexperienced.”

Port Adelaide’s Kane Farrell tackles Fremantle’s Michael Walters during the round 13 AFL match at Optus Stadium. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos/Getty Images.

Port’s 255-game talisman Travis Boak believes Farrell, 20, will live up to expectation at Alberton.

“Faz is a kid with so much talent, so dangerous. He needs to keep turning up at contests and did that, provided a lot of spark in that forward half,” Boak told The Advertiser.

“To finish with four goals is outstanding for him and will be a very good player for the club.”

Walters put the finishing touches to superstar status with goals from all angles including two in the final term to seal victory. Walters is the complete package — backing his career best goal haul with 25 touches, 11 contested, five clearances and five inside 50s.

“Some unbelievable goals,” said Hinkley of Walters with 246 goals in 141 games.

“He’s a high quality player, everyone knows that.”

Walters has struck a purple patch, winning successive games against Brisbane, Collingwood and Port for Ross Lyon’s unit.

“We’ve seen him win them games in the last couple of weeks. This way he won it differently by a bit bigger margin,” Hinkley said.

Hinkley noted Port must “learn” from a final quarter where Fremantle swept contested possession 50-26.

“They had the run in their legs at the end of the game that we couldn’t provide,” said Hinkley who watched rookie ruckman Sean Darcy upstage Scott Lycett and Paddy Ryder in the final term.

Port is in desperate need of a hulking inside 50 target presence but won’t fast track Charlie Dixon’s comeback from a leg broken last August.

Ollie Wines and Tom Rockliff (hamstring) offer decisive midfield muscle but Hinkley will only select those in the condition to impact on Saturday against Geelong.

“It is important we get them ready and give them the best chance to succeed at AFL level. We don’t rush them because of winning and losing,” said Hinkley.