Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says exciting youngsters have Power in premiership conversation
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has boldly stated his side, bolstered by emerging young guns, can win the AFL premiership in 2020 despite missing finals in the past two seasons.
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A bullish Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has put the club’s rivals on notice, declaring “look out, we’re coming”.
After missing the finals in the past two years, Hinkley – who likely needs to lead the Power to September action to keep his job – said the club was poised to challenge for the flag after a standout pre-season and the excitement generated by a host of young players.
Revealing Port would have only two players unavailable for Friday night’s internal trial at Alberton Oval – former co-captain Ollie Wines (shoulder) and first-year midfielder Jackson Mead (hamstring) – Hinkley said the Power list was primed to shock the competition.
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. @PAFC coach Ken Hinkley very bullish about his team’s prospects this season, saying: “Look out, we’re comingâ€. @TheTiserSport pic.twitter.com/0eWLmtdOE3
— Andrew Capel (@andrewcapel) February 12, 2020
“We know we’ve got the list now that is really, really capable,’’ he said.
“If you are a Port Adelaide person you would want to get down here on Friday night and have a look because there is a fair bit to look at.’’
Most pundits have not picked Port to make the top eight after consecutive disappointing seasons.
It has made the finals only once in the past five years and is listed by betting agency Ladbrokes as a $26 outsider to win this year’s flag.
But Hinkley said the club had been “building towards a premiership’’and was primed to deliver the goods in its 150th year.
“I love this club and I love the history of this club, and this club’s history is winning premierships, so that’s what we’re starting out to try to do,” Hinkley said.
“We’re going to start this year wanting to win a premiership in our 150th year.
“We’re going to do everything we can to do that, and to do that you’ve got to qualify for finals.
“So look out, we’re coming.
“We’re building towards a premiership and we don’t hide from that.’’
The Power has invested heavily in the draft in the past two years and will have 43 players available for Friday’s intraclub match.
After taking AFL Rising Star runner-up Connor Rozee, Xavier Duursma and Zak Butters in the first round of the 2018 draft and getting exceptional rookie seasons from them, Hinkley forecast the club’s top 2019 draftees – utility Miles Bergman, forwards Mitch Georgiades and Dylan Williams and Mead – were also poised to make an early impact.
He said he expected at least one of them to debut in round one.
“We had the three boys last year that were really exciting, well, there’s some stuff going on out there on the training track at the moment that’s equally as exciting,’’ Hinkley said.
“Most of the people have seen Mitch take a few grabs, which is pretty exciting, he's a bit of a highlights reel and we look forward to creating a few of them.
“I’m excited by what’s coming and there’s no doubt this footy team is really building.’’
Originally published as Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says exciting youngsters have Power in premiership conversation