Ken Hinkley proud of players but laments inaccuracy in front of goal after elimination finals exit

KEN Hinkley said footy was a funny game but the coach said there was no laughing in the Port rooms after his side had kicked itself out of the 2017 finals.

Sam Gray and Justin Westhoff walk from the field dejected after the loss. Picture: Getty Images

FOR all the improvement Port Adelaide made this year, coach Ken Hinkley summed up the mood best with his answer to the final question of his press conference last night.

If someone had of offered you fifth spot at the start of the season would you have taken it?

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“Yep, absolutely, but I wouldn’t have taken losing an elimination final though in extra time by two points. Footy — funny game isn’t it,” Hinkley said.

It was an honest and somewhat lighthearted response to what Hinkley also agreed was one of the most devastating losses in his time in footy.

The Eagles celebrate their incredible win at Adelaide Oval. Picture Sarah Reed

“I suppose it has to be doesn’t it? You’ve worked so damn hard and you’re put under so much pressure and you come up a small margin short,” he said.

“The players are devastated, people don’t realise how much they put into a game of football, into a season of football, people think they sometimes don’t care or it doesn’t mean enough, well go and look at our players now and understand the hurt they’re going through.

“But that’s what happens, football gives you a smack.”

Hinkley had no issue with the free kick awarded to Luke Shuey who kicked the game-winning goal and said what cost his side the game was conversion in front of goal.

Jared Polec tackles Luke Shuey, giving away a free kick for too high. Picture Sarah Reed

“Kick straight, it’s been our problem for large part of the year, we’ve worked really hard at it all year and haven’t been able to convert the way we should,” he said.

“It costs and hurts and obviously tonight more than you can imagine.”

Hinkley also said he was proud of his team, a young and emerging team, with nine players playing their first final.

“You’re definitely proud of the performance and the way they stuck at it, we were down five goals and ended up getting back in front,” he said.

“We dominated the game but didn’t dominate the scoring, we didn’t kick straight when we needed to.

Charlie Dixon fights to hold back the emotion after the Power’s loss. Picture: Getty Images

“We picked the side we needed to tonight, we should have won the game if we had of polished the game better than we did. It wasn’t because we didn’t have one player, that will never be the case.”

Asked about Charlie Dixon’s performance, Hinkley leapt to his star recruit’s defence after his second strong season at the Power.

“He’s not overpaid is he? This wonderful place here they tend to whack people for unknown reasons but I couldn’t be more proud of Charlie Dixon, I couldn’t be more proud of the whole team as far as the way they go about things.

“But I like a lot of people get sick to death of the other stuff that comes with this game and that’s what challenges me, I suppose.”

Originally published as Ken Hinkley proud of players but laments inaccuracy in front of goal after elimination finals exit