Hinkley’s words from 2017 John Cahill Medal count echo as Power officially closes its year on Friday night

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s observations at the 2017 John Cahill Medal count for the Power’s club champion have a more relevant tone a year later.

Port coach Ken Hinkley at training this year. Picture SARAH REED

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KEN Hinkley got so much right with his end-of-season speech at last year’s John Cahill Medal count for the Port Adelaide club champion.

And perhaps Hinkley needed to tap into his own words when it started to turn pear shape for the Power in mid-July as his team’s top-four aspirations crumbled with just one win in the last seven home-and-away games.

There will be — yet again — fascinating speeches at the Power’s season-ending event at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday night.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley’s speech at the Power’s club champion count last year was prophetic for Season 2018. His remarks at Friday night’s year-ending event for Port Adelaide will be heard with greater interest after the Power’s poor finish to the AFL home-and-away season. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Will club president David Koch keep his address to the off-field challenges — and leave the football agenda to Hinkley, as has been the case at the past two counts? Or is the dismay and disappointment from Port Adelaide’s lame finish to the season demanding of a word or two from the highest office bearer at Alberton?

And what does Hinkley say — and how is he heard — when for the first time in his six years at Port Adelaide there is a significant ripple of discontent from some sections of the membership and fan base?

Hinkley last year stepped up to the stage — soon after the Power had been taken out of the finals race in extra time with West Coast midfielder Luke Shuey’s free-kick goal after the siren — with four major take-out notes in a 13-minute speech that carry more significance today.

First, Hinkley questioned if Port Adelaide would indeed find an edge — particularly in its character — from the heartbreaking loss to the Eagles in the elimination final at Adelaide Oval.

“There is so much hurt,” Hinkley said of the bitter end to Season 2017. “I was not sure (straight after the final) how much that (hurt) helps (for 2018 and beyond) … and I’m still not sure.”

Clearly, it did not help.

Second, Hinkley recognised Port Adelaide rise from also-ran in 2015-16 to finalist in 2017 was built on “courage” and resilience “to stick to our guns”. Can the same be said of 2018, particularly when the Power seemed to fall away from its strengths to play safe after losing to Fremantle at Perth Stadium on July 15?

Western Bulldogs recruit Jackson Trengove up against former Port Adelaide teammate Justin Westhoff. Picture: Michael Klein

Third, Hinkley paid tribute to his club for “sticking together” — just as the “Never Tear Us Apart” anthem demands. This theme means more internally at Alberton today when — under pressure — key players at the Port Adelaide Football Club cannot afford to stray from their once-powerful unity nor lose confidence in their plans, on or off the field.

Fourth, Hinkley recognised how much Port Adelaide owed to Jackson Trengove, who had taken up free agency with the Western Bulldogs to shore up his future on and off the field with a significant contract.

Trengove was the spiritual leader among the player group at Alberton. His absence this season was significant. And those who take issue with how on-field leadership appeared lacking as the Power fell from a top-four contender to 10th in the last seven weeks of the season have more reason to measure the cost of Trengove’s absence from Alberton.

It shall be an interesting closing night for Port Adelaide.

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Originally published as Hinkley’s words from 2017 John Cahill Medal count echo as Power officially closes its year on Friday night