PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Ken Hinkley says the decision to bring in Matthew Broadbent and Steven Motlop was as much about experience as it was their strong form.
Broadbent will play his first game in 647 days when he runs out in Showdown XLVI, while Motlop spent the last three weeks in the SANFL to find some touch.
“We are certainly lacking some experience,” Hinkley said at the Showdown press conference on Friday afternoon.
“To bring Broadbent and Motlop in for some experience was certainly one thing.
“And our speed options were players in some good form.”
Hinkley was full of praise for Broadbent on Tuesday afternoon when he told the playing group the much-loved defender would return, and on Friday those sentiments were echoed for Motlop.
“Really pleased that Steven has been able to go back and be a contributor for the Magpies and play really strong football,” he said.
“He is a great teammate, which I think is really important.
“He’s got some really fond memories of the Showdown last year, so to be bring him back is good timing.”
The Power have made four changes for Saturday night’s blockbuster with Adelaide, and the senior coach said there were some tough decision at the selection table, in particular first-year player Zak Butters.
“It’s always a tough call to leave any one out,” Hinkley said.
“Zak has been really promising for us, he’s been incredible - all three of the first-yearers have come in and played their role really well.
“When they’re not playing as well as they need to, then that’s when they put themselves at risk, like any other player in the side.
“It’s a bit hard with no game in the SANFL but he gets the opportunity to have a little bit of a down-load as well, and gets himself ready to go again.
“He’s a high-quality young player. He’s in the early stages of his career, he’s going to learn and he’ll learn quick.”
Young speedster Aidyn Johnson didn’t take part in the club’s short training session on Friday morning, but Hinkley says he should be fine to take on the Crows.
“He didn’t train out there this morning,” he said.
“He was a little crook overnight but he’s fine, we expect he will be okay.
“As you see with us this morning, seven or eight players don’t do much on this day, so it’s no big concern for us.
“Everything is as it should be and that’s the side we named.”
Hinkley said Saturday night’s result, like any game, will come down to which side can handle the pressure around the ball and win the contested football.
“Regardless of whether it’s a Showdown or not, or whether it’s us against Collingwood, or Adelaide against Freo, it’s the contest - that’s where the game stops and starts,” he said.
“If we look at last year’s Showdowns, both sides scored 90 points, so I suspect the game will still get into free-flowing football at some point.
“We will be doing our best to stop them from getting too much but hopefully trying to create a lot ourselves.
“But if you don’t win the contest then you don’t get the chance to do any of that stuff.”
Port will host the Crows in front of a sell-out crowd in Showdown XLVI, with the first bounce commencing at 7.10pm ACST.
