PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has lauded his side’s defensive work against Greater Western Sydney after keeping one of the highest scoring sides in recent weeks to just 29 points on Saturday night.

The Giants had averaged 95 points per game over the last seven games but were held to just three goals by a Port Adelaide side refusing to give up hopes of sneaking into the top eight.

The 12.12 (84) to 3.11 (29) result at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night was built on an eight-goals-to-two first half before scoring eased.

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Hinkley admitted the second half was untidy but was full of praise for his side’s defensive work.

“I thought both teams blew some chances but overall, we finished the game strongly, which was pleasing,” Hinkley said after his side’s eighth win of the season.

“That’s a team we played tonight who over the last six weeks ranked second in offence in the competition and to keep them to 29 points was an outstanding performance defensively. Really strong.

“We knew the threat for us was their power and their ability to score. They missed some shots but at the end of the day we did a really good job.”

Much of the scoring came from forward turned midfielder Connor Rozee, who booted 4.2 and racked up 25 classy touches.

The 22-year-old showed he was happy to get his hands dirty as well with five tackles and four clearances, adding to his impressive resume since moving into the centre square in Round 5.

“He’s a remarkable young player,” his coach said proudly. “We’ve put a lot of investment in him through our recruiting and drafting over a long time for this very reason, because we think he’s an exceptionally talented young person who is a great team player.

“He continues to build a pretty strong season. He would have to be one of the key midfielders in the competition right now.

“They talk about mids who can kick goals and Connor is starting to emerge in that group.”

Hinkley also spoke highly of the on-field consistency in 2022 of Sam Powell-Pepper, Dan Houston and Ryan Burton’s consistency, and was particularly glowing over the latter’s job on the dangerous Toby Greene on Saturday night.

“Ryan has had a great season. He’s had big match-ups every time,” Hinkley said.

“He’s a quality defender who can actually hurt you both ways and we’re pleased with the way he’s playing.

With St Kilda and Richmond each suffering defeat on Saturday, Port Adelaide is now a win behind the eighth placed Tigers heading into a big game against reigning premier Melbourne in Alice Springs.

While the win maintains Port’s finals hopes, Hinkley said his side could not afford to think about anything other than preparing to tackle the Demons on Sunday afternoon.

“That’s what we’ve done all year from a time when we weren’t going great to when we started to get going to a time now where we’re thereabouts but we’re not there,” he said.

“We can’t afford to go any further than the best team in the competition pretty much – well them and Geelong – but we know what we’re coming up against.”

One question that will come up is whether lead ruckman Scott Lycett is ready for an AFL return following his first game since suffering a shoulder dislocation against the Demons in Round 4.

Lycett played in the SANFL on Saturday afternoon, recording 14 hit-outs, five clearances, and 16 disposals to go with 1.1.

“He got through well. He’ll obviously be better for the run,” Hinkley said.

“Scott was pretty solid in his first run in 12-13 weeks but we’ll have conversations around what that looks like later in the week but I said that before today’s game to Scott. Whether it’s next week or the week after, we won’t worry about that until we get to that point.

“(Melbourne’s ruckmen) Max Gawn, (Luke) Jackson, both great players. Melbourne’s a great team. Everything worries me about Melbourne, not just that.”

Sunday’s game is at Alice Springs’ Traeger Park.

While some would suggest playing the Demons in the Northern Territory is a different prospect than meeting them on their home deck at the MCG, Hinkley said he wasn’t so sure.

“I’ll tell you after next week,” Hinkley said. “We’ve played them up there in my time and I think they’ve been pretty successful up there but they’ve been successful wherever they’ve played.

“They’re a well-coached, well-oiled team. They won’t be easy wherever we play them.”