Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley reveals form, not injury, is behind ruckman Scott Lycett’s demotion from the AFL side
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has revealed the decision to drop ruckman Scott Lycett for young gun Peter Ladhams was based on output, not a nagging injury.
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Form not injury was the reason why ruckman Scott Lycett was dropped for Port Adelaide’s clash against Essendon, Power coach Ken Hinkley says.
Despite being ranked as one of the best players in the AFL this year Lycett has been dropped for young gun Peter Ladhams in a game the Power need to win to keep their finals hopes alive.
On the same day The Advertiser revealed that Hinkley has made the equal-most unforced changes in the AFL this year, he said his latest big move was around Lycett’s recent form.
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“Scooter’s last couple of weeks have been a little bit down on his own performance, what we need and what we expect from him,” he said.
“Scott is obviously pretty disappointed and wouldn’t totally agree with our decision but we feel like we should give that opportunity to Pete (Ladhams) who deserves it.
“He could have been picked there is no doubt about that, he was available for selection and we chose not to pick him based on his output and what Pete’s output has been.
“Scott’s form has been OK but there comes a time where the replacement has to have a chance.
“I think he has had games where he has been really good … his last couple of weeks have been a little bit off and not given us that contest that we want for a full game ruckman.”
Tall forwards Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall have also come in for the Power, in place of Dougal Howard and Joel Garner, to give the Power a new look forward structure.
Despite his constant chop and changing in 2019, Hinkley said he had a good idea of Port’s best 22.
“The results would say that… we are trying to figure out the best mix that gives us the opportunity to score consistently,” he said.
“At the moment we haven’t had that right whoever has been in that spot and we will continue to make that adjustment to get that right with the players who are there.
“Our results would suggest that we are still trying to figure it out because we haven’t been able to score the way we like or win as often as we would like to.
“I think any side in our position will continue to explore.
“We have an idea of what our best 22 looks like but at the moment we are not performing that way.”
The Bombers have caught the eye for their rebound game and speed in recent weeks as they turned their season around and now look set to play finals footy.
Five of the Power side will be at least 197cm and Hinkley was hopeful this would cause the Bombers problems.
“It will work one of two ways,” he said.
“We’ll mark the ball on them and have lots of opportunities, or the ball will hit the floor and we expect our blokes who are in there to put on an enormous amount of pressure on.
“We’re hopeful we can cause them equally as many concerns.”