Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley expects wingman Jared Polec will soon sign a new deal with the Power
POWER coach Ken Hinkley is confident link man Jared Polec will soon sign a new deal to stay at Alberton.
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PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is confident the next big name to assure his future at Alberton is Jared Polec, who is in discussions over a new deal.
The former Lion is a crucial outside player with one of the best deliveries at Port Adelaide and would be a welcome signing to follow that of vice-captain Ollie Wines.
And Hinkley, who never doubted Wines would stay at Port, was similarly optimistic Polec would stick with the in-form club.
“They are where they are; they’re negotiating, I’d imagine, between him and the club,” Hinkley said in response to the question of negotiations. “And that would be quite normal.
“All I’ve said all along with all of the boys is that they like to stay with Port more often than not, that’s no issue
“Jared’s no different. He came back to Adelaide from Brisbane and (I am) hopeful and expect that Jared will still be at Port Adelaide next year.
“Why wouldn’t we be (confident)? It’s consistent behaviour from our players.”
Meanwhile, Hinkley wants to see more from the candidates hoping to replace the injured Tom Jonas as the Power’s key defender.
Jonas has been ruled out for four to six weeks because of minor knee surgery and his role is likely to be filled by either experienced defender Jack Hombsch or the in-form Jarrod Lienert, 23, who is yet to make his AFL debut.
Hinkley would like to see both of them during Jonas’ absence and as much as Jonas will be missed, his spell is a major opportunity for the aforementioned to cement a spot ahead of the finals.
Hinkley is also hopeful both Sam Gray and Jasper Pittard will be available for selection after recovering from injuries.
But the first issue is who to slot in as the key backman against the Dockers.
Hinkley said the surgery had been successful and was confident Jonas would be back later in the year.
“Really good, really positive, if you can say it’s positive to have surgery this time of year,” Hinkley said. “It’s a four to six-week injury, the outside being six and the positive and good prognosis being four, so we’re pretty hopeful.
“We’ve got some people obviously available (to replace him). We’ve got Jack Hombsch and Jarrod Lienert, who’s played really good footy.
“We’re pretty keen to have a look at Jarrod at some stage and obviously Jasper if he gets through this week will be another option.
“We’ve got numbers there to cover it but I challenge any side to lose your key back, your best back, and (for it) not to hurt you a bit.
“There’s a couple of blokes we’re going to wait and see on Friday.
“If they can get a run at it at this time of year it’s pretty important.”
“Jack’s pretty exposed; we know what he does.
“Jarrod is bit different. He’s got some wheels about him, he’s got a bit of speed, he’s obviously 6’5” and got a powerful kick.
“He’s a slightly different player to what Jonas or Hombsch would … from our point of view that’s something we need to look at, to see what he can do at a level above (the SANFL).”