Pleasure and pain a fine line for Ken Hinkley and Alan Richardson

POWER coach Ken Hinkley was formulating his post mortem for a loss that could have up-ended his team’s finals tilt, but St Kilda coach Alan Richardson was left to mull what went wrong.

A dejected Luke Dunstan after St Kilda’s loss. Picture: Getty Images

THERE’S no finer line between pleasure and pain for victorious Ken Hinkley after the heart stopping triumph against St Kilda that “made” Port Adelaide’s season.

Hinkley was formulating his post mortem for a loss that could have up-ended Port’s finals tilt before the Paddy Ryder-Robbie Gray intervention seven seconds from the final siren at Adelaide Oval.

Ryder’s tap over his shoulder with the last play of the game saw Gray collect and goal from 50 metres steal a two-point win.

“I thought how I am going to explain that and then I had that Robbie Gray and Paddy Ryder moment. That can make seasons,” said Hinkley.

“We train all that stuff for winning close games and in a season it is pretty significant.”

Port entered the clash needing two wins against either St Kilda, Adelaide, Collingwood, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast to seal a return to September.

Ken Hinkley enjoys the win with Jackson Trengove. Picture: Getty Images

Putting away St Kilda was essential for an 11th win and concerted push at the top four.

Defeat would have thrust Port back to the pack, jeopardised its home final aspirations and top eight tenure.

“We haven’t felt that thrill from that type of win for a long, long time,” said Hinkley.

“It was a pretty emotional win as a football club. I was really proud of them.”

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson was rueing early scattergun kicking for goal as much as letting a winning position slip in the final minutes.

“We certainly missed some opportunities early,” Richardson said.

“I reckon at one stage we were 2.12.

“It’s pretty hard to win on the road against good footy teams doing that. But to the boys credit they persisted.

“That (missed goals) can often present real frustration and at times a lack of energy, when guys continue to miss, the impact it can have on others, but to their credit they kept going.

“I would say that our missed opportunities at goal probably kept Port in the game at stages. I thought we were quite dominant with our play but just couldn’t capitalise.”

Robbie Gray watches to see if his kick carried through for goal. Picture: Sarah Reed

There will be some mulling over the final two minutes, in which the Power kicked two goals to steal back a game in which they had been in front with a single-figure margin at every break.

But Richardson will use a wider lens as he prepares for next week’s match against West Coast.

“We didn’t get everything right,” Richardson said.

“It’s really important to have defensive cover in position. It’s really important to have the best stoppage player in the game covered.

“If you can take out the last couple of minutes the guys did a terrific job in there but when it was at its most important they (Port) were able to get it done.”

Port’s midfield faces a searching examination in Showdown 43 next Sunday against Adelaide.

Before then, Hinkley wants to saviour the kind of joy that eluded it Ryder’s WADA enforced absence last season.

Port’s beaten one top eight side this season but has renewed faith after its Houdini escape against the Saints.

“It is really important you can get belief in yourselves, the footy club,” said Hinkley. “We got a lot out the game, willingness to stick at it in close games.

“The was something in it for the boys and one they will win remember.”

St Kilda charged at Port with five final quarter goals but it was recalled duo Jack Hombsch – on Josh Bruce – and Jasper Pittard who held the visitors at bay for the duration.

“I thought Jasper and Jack played big moments for us in the game. They are in our best team.”