IT is not as dramatic as last time Port Adelaide ventured to Kardinia Park in August last year ultimately making eight forced and even late changes to the line-up. But there will be quite a shake-up to the team seeking a rebound from Showdown defeat.
Dante Visentini will get his fourth AFL game, leading the ruck after Jordon Sweet is forced to stay home to recover from a virus. This time, in contrast to his last AFL call-up, Visentini will have true back-up support with Jeremy Finlayson resuming after a four-game absence, three by suspension.
Port Adelaide's attack certainly will be led by Charlie Dixon, with more made of his training mishap at Alberton on Tuesday night outside the clubhouse than within.
"If we ruled Charlie out every week with a sore ankle he would be finished playing," Hinkley said.
Port Adelaide will be without Sweet (virus), captain Connor Rozee (hamstring) and young defenders Jase Burgoyne (groin strain) and Lachie Jones (hamstring).
But the team sheet will regain key defender Aliir Aliir (concussion protocols) to work a tandem with Esava Ratugolea in his first match at Kardinia Park since his move to Port Adelaide from Geelong.
Joining Visentini, Finlayson and Aliir in returning to AFL action is Josh Sinn whose SANFL form commands a recall regardless of the injury count at Alberton.
"Josh has done a lot of work," said Hinkley. "He has great talent. Unfortunately, his body has let him down for the first three years with us. But he has worked really hard to get in great shape. Watch him play SANFL, you know he is ready to have a crack and with a healthy body he has a chance to consolidate."
OUR GAME
KEN HINKLEY is emphasising Port Adelaide must play Geelong - and not Kardinia Park - and his players must focus on their strengths rather than be obsessed with countering those of the Geelong stars.
"We have planned to play the way we like to play," Hinkley said at Adelaide Airport on Thursday morning. "We will try to limit some of the weapons of the opposition. But the reality is we have to play our best football - and that would put us in this game with a real chance.
"We need to perform at our best."
Defeat in the Showdown has brought questions on Port Adelaide's play, particularly in the forward half of the field.
"We know what our best ball movement is like," Hinkley said. "To the opposition's credit, we have been stifled by defensive sides. Our challenge is to look at all options we have available when we have ball in hand.
"Sometimes you will be stifled. Sometimes you have to work your way through it. We know all phases of our offence look at its best - we just have to make sure we can execute."
Hinkley dismissed thoughts Port Adelaide has played with too much focus on putting the ball to Dixon at the goalfront.
"They don't, it is what the opposition has forced us into," Hinkley said. "But we need to be strong in the mind with what we need to achieve. There are times when you just have to accept going long and high ... and there are other times when you need to be able to run with the ball. Every team has big forwards they kick long to when they are in trouble.
"We know how to best move the ball forward ... we just have to execute on game day."
WHERE HE LEFT OFF
DANTE VISENTINI resumes his AFL journey from where he left off in Season 2023 - at Kardinia Park. His third AFL game - in round 21 last season - demanded he work the ruck while the team sheet was denied Scott Lycett, Charlie Dixon and Jeremy Finlayson.
Visentini collected 25 hit-outs in a competitive duel with Rhys Stanley (31 hit-outs).
"He played it really well," Hinkley recalled. "And he has been in solid form.
"It has proven to be a good decision to have a few rucks on the list. We knew at the start of pre-season we had three rucks who could play - and Dante, as the youngest of the three, gives us absolute confidence."
THAT VENUE
GEELONG'S notable advantage at Kardinia Park has stood up against Port Adelaide that has won just twice in 16 visits to Corio Bay. The last victory in 2007 - with that famous last-minute goal from Dom Cassisi - has been followed by nine losses, the most recent by 12 points last season.
The "skinny" lay-out - with a width of 115 metres, the least of all AFL venues - challenges many visiting teams. Kardinia Park also is the AFL venue offering the least space on the playing field.
"It's probably still the biggest task in footy," said Hinkley of playing Geelong at Kardinia Park. "And you would be foolish not to acknowledge the talent of the team you come up against there - Geelong would be the best-ranked team since 2005.
"Kardinia Park is not that much different to Adelaide Oval for us. We have a very similar shaped ground at home. So we go there knowing how to play the venue and what we can do ... but we also know we are playing Geelong (more so than the ground).
"You have to play four full quarters. You have to be prepared to stay there the whole way. It will go to the end; it will be a hard, physical fight and at Geelong they want to make it that way on that smaller ground.
"We really need to hang in."
CHANGING COLOURS
ESAVA RATUGOLEA returns to Geelong with "excitement" and to rekindle training sessions in which he would content with Geelong's big forwards Tim Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
"He would also be a bit nervous," Hinkley said. "He now knows he is a Port Adelaide player and he goes there to do a job for us. He knows who he is best suited to play ..."
THE BREAK
PORT ADELAIDE resumes after an eight-day break that has physically and mentally refreshed the squad.
"We have refined and re-tuned a bit of stuff," Hinkley said. "We have had a physical freshen up after coming off six-day breaks. The mental break is good too."
THE RESULT
WIN, Port Adelaide will answer the critics pointing to a lopsided record against top-four teams. Lose, the focus again will be on whether Port Adelaide is just a competitor rather than contender.
"It is obvious," says Hinkley, "that as the season unfolds you have to beat teams that will be part of the finals. Reality is, we need to play well every week - not just against the top teams."
