Indicating the high standards expected at Port Adelaide, Hocking says the players and coaches had taken collective responsibility for the club’s poor efforts against North Melbourne and Richmond.
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“They (the players) have expected better performances,” said Hocking.
“They’ve certainly acknowledged that it hasn’t been good enough from their point of view, and us as coaches take the blame as well in regards to selection and match day.
“We’ve all considered the last two weeks to be below par for us.”
Port has lost its previous two matches after starting the season with a club record five consecutive wins.
“We need to get back on the winning list,” Hocking said.
“We only had two or three players out of form against North … but last week (against Richmond) the majority of the side didn’t turn up to play.”
He said the eight-day break leading into this game had given the coaching group a chance to lift the intensity level at training and introduce measures to help negate lapses in the club’s opening quarter performance.
“We’ve had an eight-day break this time and we’ve been able to get some more work into the players so we expect the intensity to be up there, right from the start,” said Hocking.
“We’ve changed the warm-up, tinkered with a few things and hopefully that will give them (players) the opportunity to get out there and hunt Carlton early.”
Hocking also expects a fully fit team to face Carlton with Dom Cassisi, Matthew Lobbe and Paul Stewart replacing Campbell Heath, Daniel Stewart and Sam Colquhoun.
Port Adelaide plays Carlton at 1:10pm Sunday (EST), portadelaidefc.com.au will have live scores and stats coverage on site from 12:40pm (CST) and comprehensive post-match coverage.
