KEN Hinkley has three months of pre-season evidence to convince the Port Adelaide coach his team is ready for the major test against Brisbane in the AFL season opener at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
And there are far more reassuring notes in a solid summer of pre-season training than the critics and fans have taken from three hours of vision from two trial games against Fremantle and West Coast in Perth.
"Our pre-season was really good - we are really positive about our pre-season," Hinkley said.
"I have the benefit of three months to see what we have done really well. I know in those three months we have great outcomes with what we trialled. We are really comfortable.
"I get (the fall-out from the Fremantle and West Coast trials). What was seen (on television) was not great. And we have had 10 outstanding days since where we have gone to work really hard to make sure anything we may have missed through the pre-season has been tightened up and we are ready to go for round one.
"We are in a better position than the start of last year."
The key notes from Hinkley's media conference at Alberton Oval on Friday are:
Former captain Travis Boak will be on the injury list with a rib fracture - after his collision with West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern - for the short term.
"Initial scans in Perth were clear, but as it settled down a fracture has appeared," Hinkley said. "He has a slight crack in the rib. We don't absolutely know (how many games Boak will miss) but we hope it is short term. It is hard to determine when that will get better."
TICKETS: PORT ADELAIDE VS BRISBANE
Versatile Jeremy Finlayson has recovered from an ankle injury and will build his match fitness in SANFL trials.
"Now he needs the best preparation (for AFL action)," Hinkley said. "We are hopeful Jeremy will back in the side real quick."
Key defenders Trent McKenzie and Tom Clurey made for a tough call at selection while considering Brisbane's loaded attack.
"Trent had a full pre-season; Tom is coming back from knee surgery," Hinkley said. "It was significant surgery and Tom has not had an absolutely perfect pre-season; he has had a great run since Christmas. But he has not had it like he would like.
"We have had several of those calls with two or three players of similar talent and we have had to make a call.
"At the start of this week we thought we were dealing with 43 out of 43 being available; that is a great credit to our conditioning team and our physical preparation. So it took some time to select the team."
Hinkley's next tough call is choosing the new 23rd man substitute who is no longer held to the interchange bench until an injury is called by the team doctor.
"Who knows just yet, tactically we get to explore that," Hinkley said. "We have spent some time thinking about what we need and the balance of our team. But you still have to survive collision ..."
Port Adelaide's new-look attack is primed to deliver more on the scoreboard.
"All teams have that challenge - it is a hard game to play; teams are so well drilled defensively," Hinkley said. "Executing in your front half is a real challenge for everyone.
"We have worked incredibly hard to make sure our front half is much more dynamic and we have brought personnel in (such as Junior Rioli from West Coast and Jason Horne-Francis from North Melbourne) and we have personnel back (such as Orazio Fantasia and Scott Lycett). And we are improving some of the youth of our team (such as wingman Miles Bergman).
"We feel we are always taking a step forward with that.
"Everyone will learn something from Round 1. What that will be, I am not sure. We are going to play against a high quality team ... You can take a lot of notice of Round One results, but the round also throws up stuff that is worth very little notice (in the context of the premiership race). (Wait) before you make too many clear assessments."
The season opener at Adelaide Oval begins at 4.05pm. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here.
