PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley says he expects Carlton to for club champion Kade Simpson who will play his 300th AFL game against the Power this weekend.
The Blues have won their last two matches against Port in Melbourne but were beaten by 90 points when the sides met last year in Adelaide.
The Power has won five of its last six games and face a Blues outfit that has just one win all season, but that is little comfort for Hinkley.
“Their form has been really solid without winning in the last month,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.
“They had the first half against Freo, which obviously was pretty disappointing for them, but other than that I think they’ve had Collingwood, Sydney
“We know we’re going to have to be at our best, as you have to be every week whether it’s Carlton or any other team, you have to be at your best.”
The Power will be without in-form defender Tom Jonas who will sit out the game due to an ongoing hamstring issue, leaving a question around who will stand the Blues’ high-leaping forward Charlie Curnow.
Hinkley says he has three tall options in Dougal Howard, Jack Hombsch and Tom Clurey at his disposal, and much will depend on how high up the field Curnow plays.
Port will also have to deal with the big-bodied Patrick Cripps in the Carlton midfield.
“Cripps is a star, we all know that and we respect him for that but we’re going to go out there and try and make it pretty hard for him,” Hinkley said.
“Patty has to go up against a pretty big midfield in our group so it’ll be a good challenge.
“There’s more than Cripps… there’s plenty of talent.”
Hinkley stopped short of calling Saturday’s encounter at the MCG a danger game but expected the Blues to lift for club great Kade Simpson who will play his 300th match.
“I think it’s reasonable that you’ve got a warrior of your football club who has been such a good
“He’s a great player
“He’s been such a durable player and he’s worked through some pretty tough times so I hope he has a great 300th game but just doesn’t play too well.
“You just love seeing the champs reach those milestones, that’s such an enormous milestone to get to… and I wish him all the best.”
Port Adelaide will hand former Demon Jack Trengove his club debut with Hombsch returning in place of Jonas.
Defender Darcy-Byrne Jones will miss his first game since his debut in Round 3 2016 after being omitted for being late to training.
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