ONE week, the numbers tell of a pacesetting Port Adelaide. The next, on defeat to the AFL premier, there are statistics that suggest the complete opposite.
And while the verdicts swing from one extreme to the other, Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley and his crew stay focussed on taking up the next challenge. It is a chance to show growth in a team that wants to advance from "competitive" to "contending".
This week - in the Anzac round with Friday night football at Adelaide Oval - it is St Kilda.
"It is an opportunity for us to improve," Hinkley said on Thursday morning. "I cannot defend the narrative about it has not worked against the best teams. We own that. We acknowledge we still have to close the gap - and we haven't.
"We are working every week - and Friday is a great opportunity to improve in that area.
"We understand the detail behind our issue. We work every week to rectify that."
SWEET AND SOUR
IVAN Soldo's move to the injury list - with surgery to repair an irritated lateral meniscus - gives Western Bulldogs recruit and boyhood Port Adelaide supporter Jordon Sweet the opportunity he has chased since entering the AFL as the No.23 call in the 2019 rookie draft.
Sweet, 26, will get - on form and with competition from Dante Visentini - at least four weeks to lead the Port Adelaide ruck.
"With Jordon and Dante we feel really comfortable that we have the right replacements for Ivan," Hinkley said.
"Jordon has shown that he is too good for the level below (SANFL or VFL). He needs this opportunity to show what he can do at AFL level consistently. He can build some confidence."
Soldo adds to the long list of rucks who suffer knee injuries in the combative battles with their rivals.
"Ivan has history with knee injuries (a curse to rucks) and he has given it a bit of a bang (against Collingwood)," Hinkley said. "We have made an assertive and aggressive decision to make sure we take care of that right now. We are making sure we have our players in the best shape for, hopefully, something later in the season.
"A small procedure now might save us some long-term grief."
RETURNING
CHARLIE Dixon (rested) back in the forward zone; former captain Travis Boak (back) resumes with the midfielders.
Who makes way - other than the injured Soldo - will be confirmed at selection on Thursday evening.
Hinkley dismissed any concerns for key defender Aliir Aliir (ankle).
Dixon can expect to be - with the continued absence of Jeremy Finlayson by suspension - working in ruck to support Sweet against St Kilda mainstay Rowan Marshall.
"Charlie will help out (with ruck contests) in the forward line and at some stage will need to help out a little bit through the middle," Hinkley said.
MILESTONE
VICE-CAPTAIN Zak Butters celebrates his 100th AFL game after making his league debut in round one, 2019.
"Zak has been pretty special for the footy club in a short period of time," Hinkley said. "He is a great story. He is a great pick by our recruiting team who called him at pick 12.
"To see the way he has attacked everything he does from the time he has got here, it is no surprise that he has played a quick 100 games. And it is no surprise he is at a level now that we recognise him as one of the premier players of the competition. He has thoroughly deserved (the accolades) for the way he has gone about it."
MORE THAN MIDFIELD
HINKLEY has put the challenge of correcting the most-noted barometer of Port Adelaide's fortunes - contested ball - to every player, not just the midfielders who have been taking the external heat.
"As a team we understand it is not just one part of the ground that is causing some of our concerns," Hinkley said. "We are able to do it pretty well against lots of teams ... but there is a game or two that bobs up and regularly it is against the better teams that we have failed to get that job done.
"That is on the collective, not just the midfield.
"Everyone hears this word around contest, contested possession and ground ball. Automatically we zoom in on the midfield. Look closely, it is the whole ground. It is not one particular area that can hurt you. And it can change to a different area with a different opposition. It is not accurate to zoom in on just the midfield battle."
RED TIME
STATISTIC of the week is Port Adelaide leading the league for scores conceded in "junk time" - the time-on period of each quarter.
"It certainly is not a fitness thing," Hinkley said. "So it is execution at the end of quarters. That is our challenge again.
"Depending on how you perform, there will be questions (on a statistic). It is part of the rolling stories that go with AFL football."
OPPO WATCH
IT is St Kilda and ... "it is a Ross Lyon-coached team that we totally respect and know," Hinkley said. "We know when you come up against Ross you typically come up against a really defensive team who are hard working and high pressure."
LEST WE FORGET
PORT ADELAIDE again hosts an Anzac round match with total understanding of the privilege - and the significance of the moment.
"It is a real honour for our football club," Hinkley said. "It is a real honour with 165 past and present members of our footy club who have been service people.
"We respect them so much and we respect this opportunity. We love that opportunity. Hopefully, we can live up to that by playing in a way that makes people enjoy the game of football."
