AFL 2023: Ken Hinkley responds to claims by Collingwood players that they are on top ‘for a reason’

Collingwood’s claims of being the best team in the competition didn’t escape Ken Hinkley who stoked the fire of the rivalry ahead of Saturday night’s clash.

Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley has stoked the fire ahead of his sides’ blockbuster clash against Collingwood saying the Power are “playing the best team in the competition, by their admission”.

The top two sides on the ladder will go head-to-head in a highly anticipated match at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Pies coach Craig McRae didn’t want to play the game down on Thursday.

“This is one of the best games you will see this year in terms of an opportunity to show what you are made of,” he said.

It follows on from Collingwood hard nut Brayden Maynard issuing a challenge to the Power after the Pies comfortably accounted for Fremantle last week.

“Port better bring their A-game because we are coming over there and are going to give it our best,” he said.

Brayden Maynard suggested after Collingwood’s defeat of Fremantle last weekend that the Pies were “on top of the ladder for a reason”.

Maynard continued to say the Magpies were the “best in the comp for a reason”.

“We love every challenge that comes our way – we’re sitting on top of the ladder for a reason,” he said.

On Friday Hinkley said he was aware of how the Pies were viewing themselves.

“We are playing the best team in the competition, by their admission,” he said.

“They are the best team in the competition, they have said that themselves publicly.

“July is a good time of the year to be number one.”

Hinkley said it wouldn’t provide his side with any more motivation to knock off the ladder-leading Pies.

“They are very clear on their description of themselves Collingwood and they rightfully own that description,” he said.

“Our players will rise to the opportunity that they have in front of them, it’s one v two and we are looking forward to it.”

The Power have made a raft of changes from the side that lost to Carlton at Marvel Stadium last week, its first loss after a 13-game winning run.

Former No. 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis, spearhead Charlie Dixon, exciting small forward Willie Rioli and key defender Trent McKenzie all return.

Ryan Burton has been elevated into the Power’s 22, which means Dylan Williams will be the sub for Hinkley’s side despite an impressive season.

Zak Butters has been named for the Power despite being under an injury cloud. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Young star Zak Butters was named despite being under a cloud with what was initially thought to be a groin issue, which led to him sitting out the final quarter against the Blues.

Hinkley said scans had determined it was a hip issue and the young gun was right to go.

“Zak basically sprained his hip, it wasn’t an adductor injury which we thought it may have been after the game,” he said.

“Soft tissues are much different so we are really optimistic around Zak being at his best.”

Skipper dumped again as Port welcomes back big names

Port Adelaide will welcome back some key players for its blockbuster clash against Collingwood on Saturday night, but captain Tom Jonas has been dropped by the Power.

Former No. 1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis, spearhead Charlie Dixon, electrifying small forward Willie Rioli and key defender Trent McKenzie all return to a Power side looking to put last week’s loss to Carlton in the rear view mirror.

Ryan Burton has been elevated to the 22 after he was the tactical sub against the Blues last week.

The addition of McKenzie, after he made a quicker than expected recovery from an ankle injury suffered against Gold Coast a fortnight ago, means Jonas has been dropped after he played his first AFL game in nearly two months against the Blues.

Jason Horne-Francis returns to the Port Adelaide side. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

The Power captain is one of six players who come out of Ken Hinkley’s side for the massive clash at Adelaide Oval.

Leadership group member Darcy Byrne-Jones misses with concussion, while Jase Burgoyne, Ollie Lord, Jackson Mead and Dylan Williams have all been omitted from the Power’s 22, along with Jonas.

Small forward Francis Evans also has been included after 17 goals in 10 games at SANFL level.

Zak Butters has been named. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

The clash between the Power and Magpies looms as one of the most anticipated of the year with the top two teams on the ladder to do battle.

The Power was smashed by Collingwood when it last took on the Magpies, but Hinkley’s side has a 13-match winning run behind it, establishing the Power as the main contender to Craig McRae’s side.

Williams, Lord and Burgoyne are in line to be the tactical sub, along with the untried Hugh Jackson.

Young star Zak Butters has been named, despite him having scans on a sore groin earlier this week.

PORT ADELAIDE v COLLINGWOOD

Saturday July 22, 7:40pm at Adelaide Oval

POWER

B: L.Jones, T.McKenzie, D.Houston

HB: K.Farrell, A.Aliir, R.Burton

C: M.Bergman, W.Drew, X.Duursma

HF: Z.Butters, T.Marshall, T.Boak

F: W.Rioli, C.Dixon, S.Powell-Pepper

FOLL: S.Lycett, O.Wines - C, C.Rozee

I/C: J.McEntee, J.Finlayson, J.Horne-Francis, F.Evans

EMG: D.Williams, O.Lord, J.Burgoyne, H.Jackson

In: T.McKenzie, W.Rioli, C.Dixon, J.Horne-Francis, F.Evans

Out: T.Jonas (Omitted), J.Burgoyne (Omitted), O.Lord (Omitted), D.Williams (Omitted), J.Mead (Omitted), D.Byrne-Jones (Injured)

MAGPIES

B: J.Howe, D.Moore - C, I.Quaynor

HB: B.Maynard, N.Murphy, S.Pendlebury

C: J.Noble, T.Adams, J.Daicos

HF: B.McCreery, B.Mihocek, P.Lipinski

F: J.Elliott, D.McStay, S.Sidebottom

FOLL: D.Cameron, T.Mitchell, N.Daicos

I/C: J.De Goey, B.Hill, J.Crisp, M.Cox

EMG: F.Macrae, J.Ginnivan, O.Markov, A.Johnson

In: B.Mihocek, D.Cameron

Out: B.Frampton (Omitted), O.Markov (Omitted), A.Johnson (Omitted)