PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has paid tribute to forward Charlie Dixon for his dominant performance in the side’s 48-point win over West Coast on Saturday afternoon.
Dixon terrorised the Eagles’ defence, booting six goals from eight shots to go with 15 disposals and seven marks.
Hinkley said it was his most dominant performance since the 2017 elimination final, also against the Eagles, when he was equally as important but was inaccurate, finishing with 3.6.
“Charlie is really important to us,” Hinkley said after the match at Metricon Stadium.
“He hasn’t always kicked goals and I’d say that’s probably his best game since we played the Eagles in a final. I don’t know how long ago now that was but he dominated the game against them in a final but didn’t kick straight. Today he kicked straight.
“When you’re fit and you’re mentally feeling well and you’re training all the time, it gives you a chance to play well.
“Charlie’s had a great pre-season, that’s been spoken about enough. He relies on his team up the field and his team have been rewarding him with plenty of opportunities.
“When he jumps, if you’re not jumping with him, you’re in some trouble.”
Dixon took much of 2019 to find his feet after badly breaking his leg and ankle, also in a game against the Eagles late in 2018.
He now leads the Coleman Medal race with 11 goals from three games.
“Before breaking his leg and his ankle really badly, Charlie had a season where he kicked 50+ goals for us I think,” Hinkley said of the 2017 season.
“There’s a bit that goes unwritten about the things that caused him to be not as dominant as he has been in the last couple of years.
“To come back from the injury that he had was a fantastic performance.”
Hinkley also sung the praises of his side’s defensive work as a unit.
The Eagles trailed by 27-points at half time but closed to within eleven points after three quick goals early in the third term.
The Port coach said he was pleased with the way his side responded.
“Our team defence is working well. In four weeks that – 41 points – is the highest score we’ve conceded this season,” Hinkley explained.
“We made no secret that we believe they are a possession side and we tried to limit their possession.
“They’ve been such a great team at doing that for such a long time… so far we’ve been able to do that the last two times we’ve played them.”
The win sees Port Adelaide remain unbeaten at the top of the ladder after four rounds but critics have suggested the wins have come against teams out of form or outside the eight.
“We’ve beaten four teams in an AFL competition, which would suggest you’re going ok,” Hinkley said of the criticism.
“Every week you play in the AFL is a test.
“AFL footy’s tough so you take wins when you get them. We’ve had a few times we’ve had the other stuff knocked out of us.
“You take wins when you get them – whether they’re in a row, or who you have beaten or who you haven’t beaten, this competition from week to week proves to us that results go different ways.”
Another test awaits next week away from Metricon Stadium, which Port has made a stronghold in 2020 with three wins in three games there.
The ladder leaders will travel up the highway to the Gabba to take on Brisbane next Saturday night, but not before savouring the result and celebrating Brad Ebert’s 250th AFL game.
“We’re going to breathe tonight, we’re going to celebrate Brad Ebert’s 250th game as a club, we’ll enjoy it and we’ll push on and have a really strong preparation week, go up to Brisbane and see how we go,” Hinkley said.
“The boys love being together, and when you love being together it doesn’t matter where you are, you’ll enjoy each other’s company.
“And so they should. They should celebrate the victory and they should celebrate Brad’s milestone.”
