AFL Port Adelaide v GWS Giants: All the news ahead of the round 22 clash

Ken Hinkley admits Port’s large free kick differential “has nothing to do with umpires” but he has sought clarity on how his team can give fewer frees away.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has gone to work on his team’s worrying free kick trend after an in-depth conversation with AFL umpires boss Dan Richardson this week around rules in marking contests.

The Power sit dead last for free kick differential this year, having given away 62 more frees than they have won in 2023.

The whistle worries hit a new high last week in Geelong, when Port Adelaide lost the free kick count 19-31 in a 12-point loss.

Hinkley put the free kicks woes down to being an “aggressive” team but he did spend time talking through aerial contests with Richardson to teach his players the right way to attack the ball and the man.

Ken Hinkley has sought clarity from AFL umpires boss Dan Richardson on the best way to minimise free kicks. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

“It is really hard to accurately inform your players which is the right and wrong way to go about it because there are definitely different interpretations around it,” he said.

“I don’t think Dan would mind me saying that we had a really good conversation this week and we are trying to support and help each other here and we want to know what’s the best way for us to play the game.

“We have given away a lot of free kicks, that has nothing to do with the umpires, that has more to do with what we are playing like and in some ways, is it an award to being aggressive and assertive and being an attacking team that goes after the oppo? I don’t know.

“I would prefer the free kick count was closer to even or in our favour if I had a choice but it is a game of footy, it is always up and (down).”

Hinkley said he has tried to stay positive with his players despite a four-match losing streak, labelling tight losses to Collingwood in round 19 and Geelong last week as “pretty solid”.

The Power has lost a grip on a top-two spot in the month of losses, with Sunday’s home game against GWS Giants a chance to turn the tide.

“Sometimes that first win you are trying to break out of can be a bit scrappy and a bit ugly but it can be the win you need to get going,” he said.

Young ruck Dante Visentini’s quad injury was labelled as “pretty short term” by Hinkley, with the three-game tall to be replaced in the ruck on Sunday by Jeremy Finlayson.

Illness swept through Alberton this week but Hinkley said he was hopeful it wouldn’t force any changes to the team on Sunday.

Originally published as AFL Port Adelaide v GWS Giants: All the news ahead of the round 22 clash