Ken Hinkley’s pride for Port Adelaide after tumultuous week
KEN Hinkley said it felt like the world was ganging up on Port Adelaide this week. And at Etihad Stadium against North Melbourne on Saturday his players “ganged up back”. See his post-match comments and our five key points from the game.
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KEN Hinkley said it felt like the world was ganging up on Port Adelaide this week and at Etihad Stadium against North Melbourne on Saturday his players “ganged up back”.
“I’m really proud of the team, that was as tough a week as you get in a footy club and that’s what footy clubs do, they hang together,” Hinkley said.
“For Toddy (Marshall who lost his father) and his family, the boys see Todd and they love him and understand he’s going to be really hurting.
“They go through that and then see Hamish (Hartlett rupture his ACL) in the last 30 seconds of training and it felt a bit like the world was ganging up on us and to their credit I said to them they stuck together out there and they ganged up back.
“They had a real crack and played really good footy.”
Port’s coaching staff made two brave calls to play Tom Jonas on Ben Brown despite giving away 11cm in height and Charlie Dixon in the ruck all day despite the obvious threat he would pose forward.
“Tommy Jonas has been a really good player for a long period of time now and I’m glad he’s seen today against as good a forward as there is in the game,” Hinkley said.
“He’s a fierce competitor, can play on anyone and he might not always win the battles but he gives everything he’s got, he’s a pretty impressive person not just a footballer.
“I thought Charlie was really good. It was pretty brave from the coaches to put him up in the ruck all day and then Hoff went forward and it worked a bit too.
“The positive for Charlie is Paddy’s ready and I’m sure he’ll be happy but he competed really strongly for us.”
Chard Wingard had a good game before injuring his hamstring in the last quarter and Hinkley said he’d miss some football but Ollie Wines was fine after copping a knock to the ribs.
In good news on the injury front, Hinkley confirmed Paddy Ryder would return to play West Coast next weekend and Sam Powell-Pepper, Jasper Pittard, Jack Trengove and Tom Rockliff would all be considered for selection.
“We’ll consider all our options, we’ve got some opportunities ... there are a number of players in our Magpies team that have been really solid.
“Rockliff was good last week too, he had 29 and touched the ball which is the way we’d like him to play so that will give us a bit of cover with the Wingard scenario.”
FIVE KEY POINTS
1 Port has been plagued by erratic forward 50 entries and been unable to score freely in recent weeks but got it right against North Melbourne. The forwards were unselfish and more deliberate with the ball and 10 players contributed to 15 goals — their best return since the round one win over Fremantle.
2 Tom Jonas is no longer in the “most underrated defenders in the competition” category given he’s now played 109 games but his performance on Ben Brown yesterday highlighted yet again how the Power cannot afford to lose him. He missed six weeks in 2016 and the elimination final last year while suspended. When Jonas plays, Hombsch, Clurey and Howard all become better and the Power needs them all fit and firing if they’re to challenge for the flag.
3 Charlie Dixon was enormous in the ruck yesterday but Port will welcome Paddy Ryder back with open arms next week. But if Ryder does go down again, Port now knows which man gets the gig full-time after also trialling Howard and Westhoff.
4 The pressure of Port’s small forwards was Richmond-esque yesterday. Johnson, Neade, Amon, Barry and Sam Gray were all on big-time.
5 Jared Polec could well be in career-best form at the moment. His foot injury is long forgotten and yesterday’s 34 disposals — 10 contested — and a goal was sublime.
Originally published as Ken Hinkley’s pride for Port Adelaide after tumultuous week