Power star Willie Rioli on his midfield move, Port’s emphatic response to Collingwood thrashing

Ken Hinkley resisted making wholesale changes at selection after Port’s disastrous round 1. However, there was one change that came to the fore in their rebounding win over the Tigers.

Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli has revealed it was him who suggested he be unleashed through the middle for the Power in its convincing win over Richmond.

And Rioli is hoping that can become more of an occurrence in 2025, after an impressive “test” in the new role.

After copping it all week for its Round 1 showing against Collingwood, the Power responded with a dominating win over the Tigers at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

While senior coach Ken Hinkley resisted wholesale changes at selection, the Power did roll out one big move from the off against the Tigers – throwing Rioli in at centre bounces.

The 29-year-old was used in that role for previous club West Coast in its 2018 premiership campaign, but until the start of the game against the Tigers he had yet to attend a centre bounce for the Power.

For the first centre bounce of every quarter on Saturday – as well as during the match at times – Rioli would line up at the centre bounce while young star Jason Horne-Francis would start forward.

Horne-Francis’ presence up forward was potentially required a bit more after Jack Lukosius suffered a knee injury just minutes into his home debut for the Power.

Given more of a licence to roam Rioli tore the Tigers apart, finishing with three goals, 17 disposals at 88 per cent efficiency and nine score involvements.

Post game he revealed that the move came about from him suggesting it to Hinkley and midfield coach Josh Carr.

Rioli was a key feature of the Power’s win. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It was more myself going to him and asking,” he told this masthead.

“Kenny has been amazing with understanding how I play, not just him ‘Carry’ as well.

“Carry is the one who has accepted me to go in there when I asked, this club is great it is always evolving and trying to get better and it was a great step in the way we want to play our footy.”

The Power are without vice-captain Zak Butters, who is recovering from pre-season knee surgery.

Rioli said he hoped he could play the role again this year.

“I hope so, I said that was just a test today,” he said.

“We knew they had a really young group in there and if we started with the right intent we could get them.”

The injury to Lukosius in the first quarter, and his subbing out, made an already smaller Power forward line even shorter with only Mitch Georgiades a target up there for Port.

But the Power were still able to be potent with the smaller forward line.

While the Tigers were only six behind in the inside 50 count (56-50 Port’s way), the Power doubled their marks inside 50 (19-8).

The Power’s forward line is something Hinkley has said his side is still working on but there was definitely more lowering the eyes and finding targets against the Tigers.

Rioli said the Power was confident this new style of play could hurt teams.

“That is something we are still learning as a team, still growing, still trying to figure out our best footy,” he said.

“We had a smaller forward line but we know if we play the way we have been training all pre-season we can get teams.”

Port bounced back in style from a disastrous round 1. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The win came after the Power faced intense scrutiny following the heavy loss to Collingwood in Round 1, and amid Travis Boak passing club legend Russell Ebert as Port’s games record holder.

Rioli said he was pleased with the way the Power responded and handled the occasion.

“Just the win, the occasion, the build up all week. I said to the young guys don’t ride the highs and lows,” he said.

“One week doesn’t make the whole season, so as long as we put our head down and got to work on the things we need to get better at we will improve.

“You will never improve as a team if you don’t look at the mistakes you made the week before.

“The game is evolving every week, every year so it is all about how I can help make the team better.”

Originally published as Power star Willie Rioli on his midfield move, Port’s emphatic response to Collingwood thrashing