PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has lamented his side’s inability to match Brisbane in the contest in its 49-point loss on Saturday night.
Port won the inside 50 count but was smashed in the contest and then on the scoreboard, going down 13.15 (93) to 5.14 (44) on a wet and slippery night at the Gabba.
After the game, Hinkley said he’d summed up the result to the team as a “simple message” and a lesson.
“My words were that it was a simple message that we need to be better. Start with me and the players and look at where can I be better, what can I do better to be more consistent in a big game,” he said in his post-match press conference.
“We were nowhere near our best and the opposition were at their absolute best with what they were trying to do.
“You don’t want that reminder but you get those (in the AFL). We’ve been a pretty consistent footy team for a period of time and it just reminds you that you have to stay at that level all the way through.
“You’d rather not get them (lessons) but AFL football says you’re not going to get 22 weeks the way you like it.”
It was the fourth time in a row that the Lions had beaten Port, with Hinkley’s side’s last win against them back in April 2018.
Hinkley said it was clear where Brisbane was getting on top.
“We got on top at centre bounce early and had the ball where we’d like it to be but we then weren’t good enough in the contest in front of the ball.
“It all revolves around contest. The last four times they’ve beaten us, there have been different reasons but the same reason – it’s a contest reason where they’ve been able to beat us.
“We go back to work and we learn. We take the lesson, we don’t like the lesson, we don’t like the taste of it but we deserved it.”
Port’s efficiency, particularly going inside 50 was telling on a night when it had enough territory to make a better contest of it.
On a disappointing night there were some pleasing performances with young defender Miles Bergman having a career-high 19 disposals and booting his first goal, and midfielder Willem Drew competing well with his career-high 32 touches, six marks, five clearances and nine score involvements, including a goal.
Vice-captain Ollie Wines starred, leading the game with 37 disposals and a goal but Hinkley said there wasn’t enough support around him.
“I thought Ollie was amazing. He’s had a great year and he’s started the year really well,” the coach said.
“He gave what he had. He didn’t leave too much out there and I think a few others could have jumped on with Ollie and it would have been better.
“You don’t win with one. You’ve got to win with 23 now.”
Defender Ryan Burton was subbed out of the game with a rib injury and Hinkley said he hoped it was just bruising and not “structural”, with more information to come in the coming days.
Experienced midfielder Travis Boak should be back next week from a minor quad injury for the big local derby against the Crows on Saturday night, and Hinkley said he expected a response from his side.
“Most times the boys have been able to respond (to poor performances),” Hinkley said.
“The way they are led by Tom and Ollie, they’ll respond. It’s a Showdown next week so they’ll be up and about to go head on into that but both sides will be coming off a poor performance.”
