KEN HINKLEY will watch Port Adelaide’s SANFL side on Sunday afternoon, having signalled to those playing that the selection door is ready to be pushed open.
The Power were out-classed by Geelong on Saturday night, conceding 15 of the 18 goals kicked after quarter-time.
Port’s players appeared aggressive and played with tremendous intent in the opening term to open up a 24-point lead, but that was where the club’s fortune ended.
Stars Robbie Gray, Chad Wingard and Hamish Hartlett all failed to impact the match and Hinkley said the opportunity was with SANFL players to push those struggling out of the senior side.
“We’ll watch the Magpies play tomorrow and hopefully they’ll play really strong footy…what I will say is people who play strong football tomorrow in the SANFL for the Magpies at League level put their hand up,” Hinkley said.
“They’ve got every right that they would expect to get looked at.
“We’re not in a position not to look at them.”
Hinkley said the bulk of Port Adelaide’s current issues lay at stoppages.
Simply put, he said the Power are failing to win their own ball and when they do win it they’re wasting it.
The Cats won 12 more clearances on Saturday night, helping to create a plus-13 advantage for inside 50s.
Hinkley said the failure to win first-possession, which leads to an increase in pressure, had resulted in a loss of confidence amongst the playing group.
He believed that loss of confidence was primarily responsible for the club’s inconsistent performances.
“Once you lose your belief in what you can do, some execution of skill, some loss of contest on the inside, you start to second guess and when you start to second guess in AFL football you break down pretty quickly,” he said.
“We’re inconsistent and that’s a dangerous space to be - an inconsistent footy club.
“There wasn’t many [players] tonight that, over four quarters, would give themselves a tick.”
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