PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has praised his side’s resilience in a come-from-behind win over the Western Bulldogs in its final pre-season hit-out.
The Power came from 20 points down with nine minutes remaining to snatch victory by 10 points, with defender Jarrod Lienert bobbing up to boot two goals in the final 90 seconds.
More impressive for Hinkley was that his side managed to find a way to win in blustery conditions and with key players Charlie Dixon, Scott Lycett and Dan Houston all coming off with injury.
“I was really pleased collectively when we got disrupted a fair bit with our structure and the way we’d like to look when some people went out of the game… so I thought that was really strong and great resilience by the boys to find a way to win,” Hinkley said after the Marsh Community Series game at Whyalla’s Bennett Oval.
“That’s the sort of stuff you want to learn as a football team and we haven’t been able to maximise that in the past.
“We hope to be getting better at it.”
The Bulldogs burst out of the blocks with 21 forward 50 entries to six in the first quarter with the aid of a strong breeze but failed to put it on the scoreboard, leading by just five points at the first change.
Hinkley paid tribute to his side’s ability to limit the scoring when it was up against it.
“It was a pretty good contest considering the wind because the wind made it really challenging,” he said.
“We probably won the game as a contest in the first quarter. We withstood 21 entries in the first quarter without giving up too much score.”
The Power led by 17 points at the main change but the visitors dominated in the third quarter to head into the final change 14 points up, as injuries took their toll for Port.
“I thought we showed some real resilience,” Hinkley added.
“It was an improved performance by us because I thought when the Bulldogs really got on top in the third quarter where they dominated the game for a large patch, we found a way to come back with some really key people missing in structure for us.
“So, I thought our boys, some of the mature boys really stood up for us.”
As well as the senior players, Hinkley singled out young forwards Todd Marshall and Sam Powell-Pepper for praise after each contributed strongly – Marshall with two goals from seven marks and Powell-Pepper with 25 touches.
But the Power mentor admitted to feeling concerned when Dixon limped off the park with an adductor injury in the third term, minutes after Lycett did the same with a sore ankle.
“Right now, I’d say he’s no risk for round one, but you’re never sure but because we’ve got the week off, I think he’ll be ok, same as Lycett,” Hinkley explained.
“I think both boys will be fit and firing for round one, which is great.
“You do get a little concerned. We don’t have too many 6’10 power forwards so we do need (Dixon) a little bit and he’s had a great pre-season so it would have been a shame for him to miss the start of the season.”
Houston was managed after half time after taking a heavy knock in a tackle in the first half.
The result in Whyalla saw Port Adelaide remain unbeaten from three pre-season games, including solid hit-outs against Brisbane and the Bulldogs.
“We talked about it being perfect preparation. We haven’t played perfect football – we saw that today - but we have had perfect preparation, which gives you a chance – nothing other than a chance,” Hinkley said of the pre-season.
“And the Port people out there should be confident to know that the boys have had a really good pre-season, we’ve been able to back up and play some good footy in Brisbane against a good side and have come here today against a really good side in Whyalla and been able to deliver a really good result.”
