KEN HINKLEY remains confident in the underperforming ruck combination of Matthew Lobbe and Patrick Ryder, despite dropping Lobbe for Port Adelaide's round 20 clash against Greater Western Sydney.
The acquisition of Ryder from Essendon was seen on the outside as the missing link in Port's premiership puzzle but both he and Lobbe have fallen way short of pre-season expectations.
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Lobbe has been forced to pay for last week's two-possession, 19 hit-out effort against the Bulldogs, while Ryder has also struggled to reach top form.
Lobbe was one of the most influential ruckmen in the League last year but, speaking to FIVEaa radio on Thursday night, Hinkley insisted his omission wasn't a statement about a future structure.
"That doesn't mean we don't want Paddy and 'Lobbes' to play well together, we think they will, but we've had for one of a number of reasons disruptions to start of the season for both of those boys," Hinkley said.
"They just haven't got their continuity together playing well, then they haven't got personal, individual form at the level they want it to be."
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Hinkley also brushed off suggestions that his side was a one-trick pony, claiming critics only see what "they want to see".
Season 2015 has seen a dramatic drop off from the Power, who were widely tipped to challenge for this year's flag.
The run and carry that became iconic last season has all but disappeared, leading to suggestions that they've been found out by opposition sides and criticism that the club has failed to adopt a 'plan B'.
Hinkley denied the Power were too stubborn with their game plan.
"Everyone's said that right through the year … the simple answer to that is people see the things that they want to see," he said.
"When they watch Port Adelaide play at their best they recognise when we've played at our best but they haven't recognised the change in ball movement at times.
"We have three styles of ball movement that we work with all the time – we don't just live in the one world.
"I'm really strong in the belief of what we do and I'm not going to change from that … I don't care if people think I have to change or the team has to change – the team will get it right."
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The coach believed there were a number of reasons that had led to a disappointing year, including the failure to deal with expectation and an underperforming defensive.
He couldn't hide from the fact that key players had endured interrupted seasons – Jackson Trengove, Alipate Carlile and Tom Jonas have all missed games – but he didn't want to use injuries as an excuse.
Instead Hinkley said a lack of confidence had led to team-crippling doubt while pressing.
"You get one or two people doubting what they're doing and [the press] breaks down and that's happened to us, we've got a bit of doubt in the team," he said.
"That's about not wanting to let the team down, that's about doubt that's created just because you're not playing as well as you want and you're half a second off.
"When you're half a second off in AFL football sides get through you."
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