Hinkley downplays Power’s prison bar troll

They were barred from wearing their prison guernsey at this year’s Showdown but the Power had their way after Saturday’s game.

Port Adelaide's notorious prison bar strip.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley claims the decision to don the prison bar jumper in the changerooms after the Showdown triumph was not aimed at the AFL, rather a show of respect for the club’s history.

And former captain Travis Boak, named Showdown Medallist for a third time after the victory over Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, said the players loved the black and white jumper and would wear it as much as possible.

The club, denied the opportunity to play in the jumper by the AFL, had planned to wear it to sing the song if they were victorious.

“It is not a signal to the AFL, it is a show of respect for our heritage, our past and the great people that have played in it, for the people who turn up and represent this club,” Hinkley said.

“We started as Port Adelaide and still are and part of that journey is this amazing jumper. I could not be more proud that the fact, we had to wait until after the game, but we will recognise it as often as we have to.”

Boak said to sing the club song in the jumper was amazing and showed fans it means just as much to the players as it does to the community.

“It was a great moment,” Boak said. “This jumper means so much to our community, to the footy club.”

As for Scott Lycett’s tackle on Ned McHenry in the first quarter which forced the young Crow out of the game with concussion, Hinkley said his ruckman will “take what comes in that place”.

“Concussion was the outcome and we don’t want that in the game,” Hinkley said “I can’t comment on it, that’s not my job.

“But we are better off as a competition when we protect the players. His intent is to tackle aggressively.”

In preparation for the Showdown, Boak said the players had talked about the contest work in the loss to Brisbane last week which was “off” and Hinkley was pleased with the response in terms of hunt and effort.

The Crows’ solid start to the season is a distant memory now. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

CROWS MUST GET GOING

Adelaide must fast track the development of its players, according to coach Matthew Nicks in the wake of the loss to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Nicks praised the intent of his side and is adamant it was up for the fight, claiming the Crows were beaten by a better team.

But he believes the club cannot keep leaving the ground content with the endeavour and must start owning games and controlling them.

“We have to put games into these guys, but actually fast track their development,” Nicks said.

“We want to be realistic with one another and understand why we are not getting games done, why we are not getting results.

“We know why today again. That has been frustrating after a while, it is the same thing and the last couple of losses have been the same thing.

“It is about learning and embracing the fact we are young, have a lot of enthusiasm and will fight.”

Nicks said the Crows brought the fight to the Showdown, only to be lacking in other areas.

He mentioned the forwards being beaten and unable to mark when opportunities presented, while allowing the Power to escape from defence too easily.

“We definitely brought the fight and got the game on our terms for much of that first half,” he said.

“To keep a team like Port to 30 points to half time was a tick.

“But we were not able to put scoreboard pressure on.

“We had opportunities, especially in that second quarter, but were not able to convert. But I was pleased with the fight and we took it to them”

While acknowledging injuries to Lachlan Murphy and Ned McHenry did not help the cause, Nicks refused to use that an excuse.

He noted Chayce Jones had embraced a new role with the SANFL side and was knocking on the door of selection and Jackson Hately would be considered for an immediate return after performing well in the reserves Showdown, also won by Port Adelaide.