The pacy winger was all at sea when Dogs coach Luke Beveridge pulled a tactical masterstroke, moving matchwinner Jake Stringer up the ground from the goalsquare. Polec’s loose checking allowed Stringer to run riot, kicking two of his three goals in the tight closing term.

“I think his last quarter hurt Jared Polec,” Cornes told AFL360 last night, after the former Brisbane Lions first-round draft pick was dropped for the second time this season.

“Luke Beveridge put Jake Stringer up onto the wing opposed to Polec, and [Port] just didn’t get that match-up right… Polec was caught out and Stringer was probably the difference between the two sides.

“So he paid a price for some poor defensive play in the last quarter and [Power coach Ken Hinkley’s] not shy to make a statement at selection, as he’s done this week.”

Cornes said he was at the game and “could see Polec signaling to the box ‘what do you want me to do?’”

“He looked confused [but] if in doubt, you’re on a great player…just go man up!” he said.

“And he didn’t do that and he’s paid the price for it.”

Cornes believes Polec “probably plays very well in a good side when they’re up and going” and together with injured wingman Matthew White played a “crucial” role in the Power’s gameplan.

“But he hasn’t been in great form, albeit coming back from a very serious foot injury,” he said.

Polec will miss Port’s game against Fremantle on Saturday in Perth, with coach Hinkley saying the 23-year-old is struggling for confidence.
“We’re still working with him and helping him gain his best form. We have absolute confidence that he’s not far away,” Hinkley said yesterday.
“Everyone looks at Jared’s ball use and the way he’s playing and recognising his weapons, if they were at their absolute best, they would certainly be enough to keep him in the side.”
Port are ninth, one win outside the top eight, ahead of their away trip to meet a Dockers side which Hinkley still rates highly, despite only winning twice this season and being in 16th place.
“It doesn’t matter where they are on the ladder for me. I rate Ross (Lyon) as a coach and the way they play,” Hinkley said.
“Their pressure is elite, always has been, and it’s coming back to that level now so that makes you really worried.
“Their numbers would suggest their pressure is right back up. And when Freo play to their best over the last few years, it has been when their pressure is elite… their forwards are hunting again and they’re chasing and they’re tackling.”

North Melbourne have lost four injured players, including captain Andrew Swallow, for tonight’s match against Hawthorn.

Swallow (concussion), key forward Jarrad Waite (hip), Ben Cunnington (thigh) and Robin Nahas (finger) will all miss the Etihad Stadium encounter against Hawthorn, whose three changes include the return of influential onballer Sam Mitchell from injury.

And with Nic Naitanui injured and Scott Lycett suspended by the club for disciplinary reasons, West Coast have summoned journeyman former Central District ruckman Jonathan Giles to face Brisbane on Saturday.

Adelaide have the bye this week.

-with AAP