We ain’t sexy, we’re Port Adelaide: Hinkley
Port Adelaide aren’t as sexy as you think, coach Ken Hinkley says.
Port's revamped midfield is starting to fire. Photo: Michael Errey, InDaily.
After Port belted a hapless Brisbane by 77 points on Sunday, Hinkley said his AFL side is misunderstood.
“Everyone tries to talk us up as a fast-moving, sexy-looking football side,” Hinkley said after Port’s 21.10 (136) to 7.17 (59) romp at Adelaide Oval.
“We are not that.
“We have got to be honest. And I said that to the boys: honest, respectful and humble as a football club is what Port Adelaide are and that’s where we have to stay.
“Some will challenge that over the journey about Port Adelaide but I think that is what our football club stands for.”
The Power kicked their highest score of the season with spearhead Charlie Dixon potting five goals and a trio of dangerous forwards – the brilliant Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff and Aaron Young – kicked three each.
Charlie Dixon worked hard for his reward. Photo: Michael Errey, InDaily.
Port’s attack feasted on opportunities from a dominant midfield, led by captain Travis Boak (31 disposals), Hamish Hartlett (24 possessions) and Ollie Wines (30 touches).
Before a Mother’s Day crowd of 32,399 – the lowest at an AFL game at Adelaide Oval since the redeveloped stadium opened three years ago – Port blitzed Brisbane with seven goals to one in the second quarter.
The Power burst came after a solid opening from the Lions, who enjoyed a 19-to-seven inside 50s advantage for a 4.4 to 3.1 lead at quarter-time.
But Brisbane scored just one goal in the next two terms in an alarming slump which was summed up by coach Justin Leppitsch.
“It all went bad,” he said.
It all went bad: Leppitsch. Photo: Michael Errey, InDaily.
Leppitsch lost captain Tom Rockliff to a nerve-related right hamstring injury in the second quarter.
“It’s minor but it has happened a few times now,” Leppitsch said.
“And each time it has only been a week or two [on the sidelines] but it has been a month apart that it has happened a few times.
“Obviously there’s some things going on there that we need to investigate.”
The Lions, also without veteran Daniel Merrett who was a late withdrawal because of illness, have lost six of seven games – four of them by 53 points or more.
“When you have a first quarter like that and then finish like that, you know it’s something else – not a physical thing. It has to be something else,” Leppitsch said.
-AAP
