Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley admits Connor Rozee error following Showdown loss

Ken Hinkley has owned up to a mistake and apologised to Power fans following Port Adelaide’s defeat in the Showdown.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Picture: Getty Images

A brutally honest Ken Hinkley admitted he made a mistake in allowing Connor Rozee to play in Thursday night’s Showdown, and apologised to Power fans after the star skipper was subbed out with a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

Rozee played in the 30-point loss to Adelaide after straining his right hamstring against St Kilda just six days earlier.

He gathered nine possessions in the first half, but was clearly hampered after halftime at Adelaide Oval, and was subbed out at three-quarter time.

“I made a mistake playing Connor Rozee … that was clear, that was obvious,” Hinkley said.

“All the testing that we did, all the medical support that we could get, all the information was that Connor was able to (play).

“I’d seen it with my own eyes that he was actually able to run as fast as he needed to, kick as long as he needed to, but once fatigue set in it was clear.

“I could try to hide behind it, but I’m not a coward when it comes to owning a mistake.

“It was my call.”

Ken Hinkley admits he made a mistake in allowing Connor Rozee to play. Picture: Getty Images

Hinkley was bullish on the selection gamble at a media conference held the day before the clash.

“For those people who are sitting there with the doomsday saying ‘you’re taking a big risk’ - we’re taking a normal risk with an injury like this,” the coach told reporters on Wednesday.

A gutted Hinkley felt he had let the 24-year-old down in clearing him to play after observing his tentative display in the third quarter.

“I let Connor down by letting him play and that would impact anyone,” he said.

“(Connor) said that he was absolutely right to play and if you watched him run (at training) it would be hard not to believe and be sure that that was the case.

“He was flat out two days in a row, no problems at all, and kicking the ball from 60m.

Connor Rozee was clearly hampered by a hamstring injury. Picture: Getty Images

“I’d seen all the things that you needed to see, but I should’ve had better history to know that that was perhaps going to happen.

“And I set Connor up to fail as a player by the way that he had to perform out there.

“I apologise to our supporters for the decision that was made.

“It was a decision that was made collectively, but I’m in charge.”

Making a tough situation even worse was the fact that it was evident to Hinkley after the match that a rest against the Crows was exactly what Rozee needed.

“(The injury) is no worse but it’s the same issue, which suggests to me that if he had had a week off he would’ve been better for next week,” Hinkley said.

The skipper will miss Friday’s clash against the unbeaten Cats in Geelong at a bare minimum and will be closely monitored before he is cleared to return.

Mitch Georgiades (knee) and Todd Marshall (ankle) finished the game on the bench and will be assessed during the week.

Originally published as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley admits Connor Rozee error following Showdown loss