Mark Robinson: Ken Hinkley’s Power produce their finest hour with thrilling win over Hawthorn

Under the pressure-cooker of footy, Ken Hinkley’s side produced their finest hour. But with all eyes on what happened after, Mark Robinson writes, let’s not hang Ken for the incident.

It is Ken Hinkley’s finest hour and one of Port Adelaide’s greatest wins.

In doing so, it ended the first season of “Hok Ball’’ and only a fool would suggest it would be a one-series wonder.

But that’s a scene-setter for next year.

Friday night Port Adelaide displayed a magnificent example of underdog tenacity and a never-dead attitude.

This script was supposedly written.

Hinkley was 12 years a slave to expectation and premiership failure and his beaten-up team would succumb to the new kids on the block and Hinkley would be out of job.

Instead, the Hawks are out of the finals and Hinkley literally had the final word and he now prepares for his fourth preliminary final.

The Power are heading to Sydney for a clash with the Swans. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

If Port’s powerbrokers had doubts on the coach, surely they are erased as once again they have been presented with evidence that the players play for the coach.

Did you hear what Connor Rozee said in the post-match “I love him like a father,’’ he said.

There was next to no love between Hinkley and Hawks skipper James Sicily after the final siren, however.

In rare scenes, the pair traded words. It was a sideshow moment which will get more coverage than it probably deserves.

Some will say it was uncouth from a senior coach, but the same people would probably say Jack Ginnivan’s gibe during the week was nothing more than banter.

Clearly, this moment got the better of the coach but, hey, that’s pressure-cooker footy and let’s not hang him.

To have two teams standing opposite each other after an immensely contested final invites tension. And it came with bells on.

Sicily, mind you, had the game in his hands and fluffed it. He hit the post from 48m with a minute to play and a goal would’ve given Hawks the lead. That beautiful right foot which is loved couldn’t get it done.

That final minute was a whirlpool of pressure, tackling, smothers and desperate bodies and Port would say that’s the club’s DNA.

From the first bounce and until the desperate last scrimmage at Hawthorn’s 50m line, Port didn’t allow the Hakes to run and spread.

That’s what pressure does. It takes away time and it takes away comfortableness.

Port’s pressure rating across the four quarters was 184, 209, 182 and 202.

The Power survived an epic. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Hawks weren’t slouches either in that regard. They went 175, 209, 189 and 217.

There were countless examples of Port’s desperation, not least Willem Drew’s spoil and Darcy Byrne-Jones’ tackle on Jarman Impey at the death.

It all happened without Sam Powell-Pepper, Dan Houston, Kane Farrell, Ryan Burton and Charlie Dixon was a late out, and Jason Horne-Francis was on the bench with cramp.

The kids were immense. Jason Burgoyne was best afield from half-back, and Willie Rioli was also damaging at the other end.

He looks like a country footballer and plays like a brilliant footballer. His delightful right foot set up a goal to Todd Marshall in the first quarter, a delightful right hand handball set up a goal for Byrne Jones just before halftime and he kicked two goals himself.

Jordan Sweet matched Lloyd Meek, Logan Evans stood up and Mitch Georgiades was clutch with two final-quarter goals.

A fierce game changed momentum in the second quarter on the back of some fierce Port tackling which the umpires dubbed too fierce.

The Hawks heads made contact with the ground, but not viciously so. It was over officiating in a game where bodies were being flung everywhere.

The first goal to Mabior Chol came when he was tackled by Lachie Jones. It was a “roll down’’ tackle rather than a dump tackle.

The Hawks’ brilliant run has come to an end. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The second goal to Dylan Moore came when he was tackled by Burgoyne. Moore was roughly a foot and a half from the ground when he was taken down.

The Chol tackle was like that scene in Seinfeld with Jerry’s girlfriend. It looked good in one light and not so good in the other. The umpire’s view was not so good.

The Moore free was more contentious and the 50m penalty for dissent was added pain. The two goals made the score line 24-20.

The halftime score was 36-27 and although Hawthorn’s game had a familiar feel to it from about halfway through the second quarter, it never was able to take control of the match.

At halftime,Port led contested ball by 18, clearance by six and inside 50s by nine.

Overall, Port was +16, +2 and +9 in those categories.

The most important stat was they held Hawthorn to two goals from turnover when Hawks have been averaging 10 goals a game since around 11.

That was brilliant execution from Port to stop transition and brilliant planning from the coach.

There’ll be no sacking this week and even if they lose next week, there shouldn’t be one after that ether.

Originally published as Mark Robinson: Ken Hinkley’s Power produce their finest hour with thrilling win over Hawthorn