The Power will play Collingwood in a twilight match at AAMI Stadium next Saturday, but Stewart (back) and Butcher (tonsillitis) will need to be assessed during the week before being cleared to return.
Hinkley said Butcher was in some doubt during the week and wasn’t confident in his health on the morning of the game, while the slower conditions after overnight rain favoured a change to an inside midfielder like Andrew Moore.
“I don’t like making late changes, and I made two in one time!” said Hinkley.
“Butcher had tonsillitis through the week, he’d been into hospital on Wednesday and Thursday and had some antibiotics to try and get him well.
“We made the decision here at the ground at 11:15am, we asked Moorey to come along for that reason.
“As the conditions worked out it probably worked out not a bad one (to change) for us and Moore came in and played a significant role.”
Paul Stewart suffered a back injury while warming up for the game and emergency defender Campbell Heath took his place in Port’s lineup.
Hinkley said it was an unfortunate position for the team to be in so close to the game.
“(Stewart) hurt his back in the warmup,” said Hinkley.
“I’ve only been involved once or twice before where it’s been that late a change, and an uncontrollable one.
“Luckily enough we had Campbell here off the (SANFL) bye – who we had as an emergency – and brought him in.”
Hinkley said although Stewart felt able to play, he wasn’t willing to risk his injury being aggravated in the game.
“Backs are funny things … we weren’t going to take the risk.”
Both Butcher and Stewart will be assessed this week and portadelaidefc.com.au will update the club’s injury situation in its regular Monday Injury Update.
