Port Adelaide’s flag hopes in disarray after bitter loss and injuries to stars Dixon and Ryder
A DEFIANT Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has vowed his team will keep fighting despite a horror day at Adelaide Oval which has threatened to derail its season.
A DEFIANT Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has vowed his team will keep fighting despite a horror day at Adelaide Oval which has threatened to derail its season.
The Power’s heartbreaking four-point loss to West Coast following an after-the-siren goal to Jeremy McGovern on Saturday was compounded by a season-ending ankle injury to ace key forward Charlie Dixon.
Lead ruckman Paddy Ryder (hip) and defender Dan Houston (concussion) also are in doubt for next Saturday’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG after Port was reduced to just 19 fit men by three-quarter time.
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“It’s incredibly disappointing but as a footy club, that happens, and you deal with it,’’ a brave Hinkley said after his side lost a 28-point lead in the third quarter to be beaten after the siren.
“We’ve worked really hard this year to get where we are and the past couple of weeks have hurt us but it won’t kill us, we’ll keep coming.
“We’ll attack the next two weeks. We are currently still a part of it (the finals race) and we’re going to give everything we can to make sure we are a part of it because we deserve to be a part of it.
“So we just have to keep at it. The disappointment hurts you for a little while but it’s critical that we get over this and get on with it because we’ve got a season to play for.’’
The costly defeat — which has left Port seventh with a 12-8 record — came nearly a year after it was bumped out of the 2017 finals in similar heartbreaking fashion in extra-time by West Coast following a goal with the last kick of the game from Luke Shuey.
Who said lightning doesn’t strike twice?
The Power was cruelled by injuries this time but appeared it would limp over the line when it still led by eight points with under a minute to play.
But a goal from Mark LeCras with 43 seconds left was followed by McGovern’s matchwinner, which came after a mark from 40m.
Hinkley ruled a line through Dixon for the season, saying he has either broken his right ankle or suffered significant ligament damage.
“Dixon won’t play again this year, there’s no doubt about that,’’ he said.
“He’s got a badly sprained, possibly broken, ankle. Hopefully from our point of view it’s a smooth recovery but he won’t play again this year.
“Ryder aggravated his hip flexor, he’s still some chance (to play next week), we took the cautious approach because we know where we’re at in the season.
“Houston has had some precautionary X-rays — he copped a big hit — but I think he will be fine.
“The injuries hurt us — you can’t hide from that — but we had every chance still to win and probably gave them a chance to win and we shouldn’t have.’’