Ken Hinkley joked that his side should wear the prison bar guernsey every week after his side’s record 75-point win over rival Adelaide in Showdown 48.
The only other time the side has worn the guernsey at AFL level in Hinkley’s time at the club was the 2014 Elimination Final against Richmond when the Power burst out of the blocks with eight goals to one in the first quarter to eventually win by 57 points.
Saturday night’s win was very different. After a slow start where signs of the 12-week isolation period were particularly evident for the home side and Adelaide had the first two goals, the Power stormed home with 13 of the last 15 goals to enjoy a comfortable victory in front of the largest crowd at a sporting event in three months – even though it was just 2240.
Hinkley paid credit to his side for the condition it returned in after the isolation period.
“We’ve trained in the first part of the season and the pre-season like we’re a good team and we’ve come back and trained the same way in the three weeks (post-isolation),” Hinkley said after the performance.
“It was good to play like a good team again tonight.
“I was really confident in the way we trained and I’ve told the boys in the last two or three weeks that we’ve come back in great shape. We trained like we hadn’t been away for that long, but we came back into a Showdown so we knew we’d have to be at our best.
“Showdowns bring out the best in you.”
Hinkley was pleased that his side was able to withstand the early pressure from the Crows, especially the way his back six banded together to repel some early attacks.
He was also pleased with the Power’s ability to hit the scoreboard after an inaccurate Round 1 showing against Gold Coast.
The 75-point margin was Port’s biggest Showdown win and it had nine goal scorers in the 17.8 (110) to 5.5 (35) result.
“It’s been our achilles heal. We’ve talked about that plenty of times when it hasn’t been good for us but tonight it was good for us,” Hinkley said.
“Your conversion is critical. Against the Gold Coast, which was a long time back, we had 1.10 and four out on the full in the second half and we got 17.8 tonight.
“We’ve been a little bit notorious for not being a great converting side but we do have plenty of chances and plenty of opportunities.”
Travis Boak was superb with 24 touches and a goal to claim the Showdown Medal for the second time in his career.
He echoed his mentor’s comments about the way the team responded to the COVID-19 break.
“I think we’re in a good space. It was really proud of the way the boys came back,” the former skipper said.
“It was a really challenging time for everyone, there’s no doubt about that, and for our group, being able to maintain where we were at – and I think we had an outstanding pre-season and outstanding Round 1 game.
“For the guys to maintain that level of energy and want was probably the most pleasing thing.
“As a senior player that’s what you want from those younger guys. They just want to improve, just want to get better, and that’s what we’ve got.
“To have the guys come back day one of this shortened pre-season in great nick just showed that they’re ready and want to improve – and that showed tonight.”
Boak discussed the pride he and the side had in running out in the prison bar guernsey, pointing out Port was unbeaten in the jumper in Ken Hinkley’s time at the club.
Hinkley interjected and said the club should wear it every game.
Boak also praised the small but vocal crowd and said he hoped Port Adelaide people felt the side did the jumper proud.
“It didn’t feel like (less than) 3000 (in the crowd),” he said.
“They made some noise and it was outstanding to play footy again tonight and to play in front of them. Even though it was a small number they certainly made some noise and helped us.
“And for them to see us run out in the prison bars obviously means a lot to them. It means a lot to us and to put that prison bar guernsey on together at the start of the game and for them to see that, and then we turn up like we did tonight, it means a lot in our 150th year.”
