YARTAPUULTI has been an enigma this AFL season with the best and worst results from Ken Hinkley's team at extremes. And the fall-out from a five-point defeat in another classic Showdown has given clarity to exactly what is needed on Saturday in the home clash with Geelong.
"We have further clarity on who we should be and what we should play like," senior coach Ken Hinkley said at Alberton on Wednesday.
"The team we need to be has been clear to us for a long time. But we seem to have these moments of short-term memory loss; we forget what is critical to us. We then get a reminder and we play pretty consistent footy. That is the team we want to be and need to be. We need to maximise every opportunity we get."
Yartapuulti is to be tested by the seventh-ranked Geelong with the lessons from wasteful moments in Showdown LVII to be carried in a true test at Adelaide Oval for the start of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
"Clearly the result (in the Showdown) is not exactly what we wanted, but the brand of football we played was quite positive (by comparison to the work against the Western. Bulldogs at Ballarat) the previous week," Hinkley said.
"We did a lot right."
AFTER THE DERBY: Yartapuulti has recently corrected its habit of suffering a "letdown after a Showdown by winning the past three games after a derby - after losing the previous three. One of the three wins was a six-point win against Geelong at Kardinia Park in round 10 last year.
"It is a pretty interesting week for both teams; we are both coming off narrow losses," said Hinkley referring to Geelong's challenge to deal with the epic four-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at Kardinia Park on Sunday.
"We both need to win."
WILLIE RIOLI: Sir Doug Nicholls Round starts with more awareness of First Nations people - and the watch on Willie Rioli's expected return to the AFL fields.
"Willie is a pretty good player and would add to our team in the front half where we probably needed a bit more last week," Hinkley noted. "But we will be very mindful and very cautious in our approach on whether we do or don't bring Willie into the side.
"If he is happy and coping and doing very well (he would play).
"His footy is not an issue. We have to make sure emotionally he is in the right spot. It looks really positive in that space.
"When he smiles he is pretty good. Last week he did not smile very often."
STRONG STAND: Yartapuulti's strong stand on cultural awareness of First Nations people coincides with the league's two-week celebration of how Indigenous players have enhanced Australian football.
The Port Adelaide Football Club is seeking to advance the progress of First Nations people in Australia's game well beyond a promotional round.
"This is a really proud moment for all our Indigenous players," Hinkley said. "And our point as a club, led by (football chief) Chris Davies, was to make sure people have a bit more understanding of what goes on. If that has been highlighted well enough - and that helps all Indigenous players - to play our great game, then we will great more opportunities for those players to,come into our game. We make them feel this is a safe place to enjoy themselves as footballers. That is a positive.
"We will have a program here (The Santos Aboriginal Power Cup) with more than 700 kids here on Thursday and Friday that shows we are putting in all our effort to make sure there is an opportunity for young Indigenous people to come into the AFL."
INJURY WATCH: Kane Farrell is lost to defence with a knee injury. And there is no rush to thrust into AFL action either of former captain Travis Boak and key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, both in the SANFL recovering from back complaints.
"It is a challenge when you lose good players, but we have a bit of depth in that position," Hinkley said. "And we have improved that depth by putting (captain) Connor Rozee at half-back.
"There is no doubt we will miss Kane Farrell."
MilesBoak had a game-high 35 disposals in the SANFL Showdown and is still being carefully guided through his return to football.
"We should be really careful when we are trying to get Trav in a position where he can have a really strong back half of the year at the very least," Hinkley said. "We want to make sure he is okay physically. Getting him through this week and next week and seeing how he feels and how his body goes is really important to us. At what level (SANFL or AFL) will be decided later."
Zerk-Thatcher is also rebuilding his fitness and match fitness base in the SANFL after having his pre-season wrecked by injury.
"He is building, he continues to build," Hinkley said. "He is coming from a long way back. He had a long time out and we have to give him time to make sure he gets his confidence up. If needed, we would bring Brandon in pretty quickly."
NEW ROLES: Is Miles Bergman to play in the midfield again or return to defence?
"Miles did not go to the midfield meetings last week but he ended up in the midfield," Hinkley said. "This week he might go to the midfield meetings and end up back up in defence ...
"He has great flexibility. He gives up great coverage in lots of areas. He can play back, wing ... maybe forward."
OPPO WATCH: Geelong continues to be the model of consistency that draws admiration across the AFL.
"They have been in pretty good form," Hinkley said. "Absolutely our best is going to be needed. We saw them here only a few weeks ago so we know they do not mind playing at Adelaide Oval that is similar to what they are used to playing on (at Kardinia Park).
"They are a high-quality team that is well coached. We know it is going to be challenging."
