Port Adelaide can’t match Kangaroos offer to wingman Jared Polec
POWER coach Ken Hinkley says the club can’t match contract offer from North Melbourne to Jared Polec but has good news on the fitness of star Robbie Gray.
PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has taken a cheeky dig at North Melbourne while admitting his in-demand flying wingman Jared Polec has a big decision to make on his future.
Asked whether the Power could match the reported $3.5 million, five-year deal the out-of-contract Polec has from the Kangaroos, Hinkley said “they offer a lot more money for a lot of players’’.
“They can (offer more than the Power),’’ he said.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that, but there’s a decision to be made by the player, what he wants to do.
“We’ve seen a couple of times over the last little while, that clearly top-end money isn’t the only solution.
“We’ve seen players last year walk away from massive offers and stay at their clubs.”
North last year offered massive contracts to entice Dustin Martin from Richmond and Josh Kelly from GWS but both re-signed with their clubs.
The Kangaroos have been the club most linked with 25-year-old South Australian Polec, who also reportedly has interest from St Kilda, Carlton and Sydney.
Polec has publicly stated he wants to stay at Port after joining the club from Brisbane, which drafted him from SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens at No. 5 in 2010, five years ago.
But the big money he is being offered after averaging a career-best 24.6 disposals this season could be hard to pass up.
Hinkley said while he wants speedster Polec to stay he understands that he could make a business decision based on money and length of contract.
“It’s the modern game, you understand the reality,” Hinkley said.
“The reality is there’s still a decision to be made and sometimes the decisions are a bit different.
“It’s a negotiation of what you are trying to achieve and maybe you are playing a game of cards where you’re holding out a little, both (player and club) are trying to get what they want.
“From our point of view with Jared, I go back to what he says. He said his first option is to stay at Port Adelaide, he loves Port Adelaide.
“We brought him back here five years ago, South Australian boy, but some stage, some day, people will move.
“It’s a business decision to be made by the player, what he wants to do.’’
Port meanwhile cleared superstar Robbie Gray to play in Sunday’s vital clash with GWS at Adelaide Oval.
And Sturt premiership defender Jarrod Lienert will make his AFL debut against the Giants.
Rebounding half-back Jasper Pittard has also been brought back into the side for Riley Bonner, who has been dropped.
Ruckman Paddy Ryder also is out from the side that was upset by Fremantle in Perth last week with a hip flexor injury.
Hinkley said Gray had recovered well from being knocked out in a dangerous tackle against the Dockers.
“Robbie’s right to go, which is really positive,” Hinkley said.
“As we said straight after the game he was pretty positive about the way he was feeling and he’s now done all his concussion tests and passed all those and was out there (at training) running around today.
“We’ll make sure he’s okay tomorrow but barring any setback he’ll play, which is a big plus for us.”
Hinkley said 23-year-old Lienert, a nice size at 193cm and 89kg, had earned the right to play his first AFL game after strong form in the SANFL.
“That’s big news for us,” he said.
“He’s a mature age pick-up who probably would have played well before this if he didn’t have some knee surgery.
“He’s worked his way back with three strong performances in the SANFL and we look forward to his debut.
“He’s got some pace, a nice leg and some really positive things that you like about him.
“That’s why we’re playing him. We think he’s got some AFL stuff that will make us better.”