PORT ADELAIDE Coach Ken Hinkley says his side is chasing payback against Geelong on Saturday night, admitting the Power’s loss at the death last season still hurts the players.
An intense and high-quality game in Round 10 last season saw the Power holding a four-point lead with less than two minutes to go, before Cats midfielder Patrick Dangerfield booted a goal to steal a two-point win.
It was a controversial encounter most remembered for a play-on call to Charlie Dixon late in the game when he marked but took too long to take his set shot.
"That (loss to Geelong last year) hurt, that was a big result,” Hinkley said ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster ANZAC Round rematch between the sides.
“We played well enough to win the game, unfortunately we didn't.
"We want to get one back, simple.
“I'm sure our players remember, they always do.”
The Power Coach admitted his team hadn’t been at its best in its past two games but said he expected his side to bounce back against a Cats outfit boasting a very strong midfield.
“We look forward to the challenge of Duncan and Dangerfield and Selwood and all the others they put through there,” Hinkley said.
“We lost last week and we were lucky to win the week before that so I think we just haven’t performed as strongly as we need to and good sides perform strongly every week.
“It’s a big game, its ANZAC Round and we really want to play some strong football, that’s important for us.”
Hinkley was also full of praise for young midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper for his “really mature decision” to stand himself down from the match while an AFL investigation into an off-field incident is ongoing.
The 20 year-old has completed a one-week club-imposed suspension for breaking team rules but believes his focus has been compromised while the AFL investigation remains unresolved and has decided to make himself unavailable for selection.
"That was a really mature decision for Sam and he made a decision based on what's best for the team,” Hinkley said.
"He's obviously not in the headspace that he probably feels like he needs to be in.
"It's caused him some grief and some concern, which it should have, but he's dealing with it and he'll handle it.”
Forward Todd Marshall has been cleared of concussion and will face the Cats, while Jack Hombsch and Jake Neade will play their first AFL games of the season, replacing the injured Tom Rockliff (calf) and Trent McKenzie, who has been omitted.
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