PORT ADELAIDE’s resilience and ability to grab victory from the jaws of defeat with a depleted squad was the most pleasing aspect of Saturday evening’s win over Sydney for coach Ken Hinkley.
Port led for most of the day before falling behind in the last quarter when Swans’ spearhead Lance Franklin booted three last quarter goals to put his side four points up.
But with a 29,631 strong crowd at Adelaide Oval willing Port on, Hinkley’s men found unlikely heroes in medical substitute Sam Mayes and ruckman Scott Lycett who each kicked late goals to clinch victory.
“There’s no doubt it was slipping away a little and that was the quality of the opposition… but I thought our resilience was remarkable,” Hinkley said after the game.
“We’ve had an attitude to a squad mentality and right now we’re stretching and testing that out a bit.
“There was an opportunity out there to not keep at it but to our boys’ credit they did keep at it.
“We’re 10-4 and I’m remarkably proud of the resilience of the team and the group that got tested all the way through and got the job done.
“When they got a bit of momentum in the last quarter, our blokes found a way to get back to the front and win the game, and that was important.”
Mayes’s effort was made more remarkable by the fact he played half a game in the SANFL before being called up to be the sub when a hip injury in the warm-up to Hamish Hartlett saw Martin Frederick brought into the starting line-up.
Hinkley said Hartlett’s injury would be assessed.
“He had a little bit of a niggle of his hip flexor and he just didn’t feel like he could possibly get through it,” he said.
“There was a late minute call to North Adelaide at half time where Sam Mayes was playing in the mud.
“Have a shower Sam and come down,” and what a remarkable part of the day when he kicks the goal that puts us back in front. Great effort by him and great effort by the team.”
Port played its fourth debutant for the season with Dylan Williams coming in to replace the injured Robbie Gray.
While he was relatively quiet, he played a key role in getting the ball inside 50 for Mayes’ last quarter goal.
“Dylan is a really smart footballer and that’s why we picked him high,” Hinkley said. “We know he’s got an incredible football intelligence and we know he can play at the level.
“He’s just learning to grow as a person but it was a really good moment that he was involved in.
“He had Dane Rampe standing alongside of him (early in the game) and Dane Rampe can beat anyone in the competition so for a debutant it’s a real challenge.
“He just had to stay there and keep competing and your moment may come, and for Dylan it came late for us.”
Hinkley was full of praise for veteran Travis Boak, who was kept quiet by a hard tag by George Hewett in the first half, only to break away and influence the game in the second.
He was also thrilled with the efforts of young midfielder Willem Drew, particularly his eight tackles and eight clearances and desperation around the contest.
The night was soured by a collar bone injury to Trent McKenzie but Hinkley was hopeful it was not broken and he could be available to face Hawthorn next Saturday night.
The win has moved Port into the AFL’s top four, a spot Hinkley is determined to hold on to as some players return from injury in the coming weeks.
“The goal is to finish as high as we can,” he said.
“I always say as many wins between now and the end of the season and then give us the opportunity if we deserve it.
“Tom Clurey is probably back next week and one or two others, but they’re more likely the week after.
“Whether players get back or don’t get back, we have to make sure we give ourselves a chance in every game.”
