Port Adelaide will travel to the Gold Coast with the aim of ending the Suns’ home win streak. Image: AFL Photos.
ON the whiteboard in the match committee room at Alberton there are more names to consider than in recent weeks – in particular Esava Ratugolea, Charlie Dixon, Ryan Burton and Josh Sinn.
On the scouting notes of the 12th-placed Gold Coast is the red flag hoisted by new coach Damien Hardwick frustrated by his team having two faces – unbeaten at home; winless on the road.
And then there is Port Adelaide’s own wish for consistency to continue a winning streak after a gritty win against St Kilda in Melbourne and the bulldozing of the Western Bulldogs at home on Saturday.
Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley has a full agenda leading to a fascinating selection call for Sunday’s top-eight shaping clash with Gold Coast at Carrara on Sunday afternoon.
The only certainty is in-form forward Mitch Georgiades will miss to serve his one-match suspension from the AFL match review office.
Hinkley’s options – recall a refreshed and leaner Dixon, after a four-week absence (that includes a three-game lay-off ordered by the SANFL tribunal).
Or “go smaller,” says Hinkley.
PUZZLE: Dixon is free from an SANFL suspension and Ratugolea (hamstring), Burton (foot) and Sinn are a chance to come off the injury list.
“It’s nice to have a good list of available players,” Hinkley said before training at a wet and wind-swept Alberton on Thursday morning. “Unfortunately, Mitch will miss …
“We will look at where we can get better … or need to get better. We will make the decisions based on what we find out at the end of training.”
Charlie Dixon and Ryan Burton are among those in the mix for Round 18 selection. Image: AFL Photos.
Port Adelaide will leave Adelaide on Friday with a 24-man squad and have a 25th ready to travel on Saturday.
Specialist forward Willie Rioli will remain unavailable while he deals with personal issues around his family needs.
“We are optimistic once he is right, we will let Willie play,” Hinkley said.
DEFENCE: Amid the absence of Ratugolea, Aliir Aliir and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher have commanded a defence that held the Western Bulldogs to 28 points until the last change at Adelaide Oval and the previous week strangled St Kilda during the second half.
Does Ratugolea return to defence … or take advantage of his versatility in another role?
“Ratugolea was recruited (from Geelong) to play key back and that is where we would like him to play,” Hinkley said. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t use him elsewhere …”
THE CHALLENGE: It is all about consistency in a season that has met the AFL’s goal of setting up an even competition.
“I have never seen it this close,” says Hinkley. “It is so tight.
“The trick in this competition is to play with consistency.
“We turn up (to training) with an attitude to get better. We aim to be at our absolute best each week. The competition says it is really hard to do that at a high level every week. And we try to do that every week.
“When we play at our best, we have a good team balance. Last week, our midfield was dominant early in the game. That leads to our forwards playing better and our backs certainly playing stronger and good footy.”
RISING/FADING SUN: Gold Coast has not beaten Port Adelaide on its home deck where it is without defeat this season.
“We get evidence straight away that Gold Coast is a very good team at home,” Hinkley said. “They have beaten Essendon and Collingwood in their past couple of games at home. We will need to be at our absolute best.
“Clearly, they had a disappointing game last week (in losing to North Melbourne in Melbourne). We heard what Damien said (challenging his team to “grow up”). We expect they will be breathing fire a little bit. We have to match that …
“It would be a massive win for us.”
Ken Hinkley says Port Adelaide will need to be at its absolute best to beat Gold Coast. Image: AFL Photos.
Hinkley is not “buying” there are two versions of Gold Coast “as the record suggests”.
“They have some unbelievably good talent,” Hinkley said. “They have had inconsistency, but what team hasn’t?”
HOT BUTTERS: In a week when the tribunal has taken issue with ball players retaliating to close-checking opponents, there is the concern for how Port Adelaide midfielder Zak Butters will cope with taggers.
“Zak knows that goes with his territory,” Hinkley said. “He has to overcome that. If he reacts, the opposition think they are getting to him. He just has to stay as calm as he can. The great players do that …”
LOGAN EVANS: Mid-season draftee Logan Evans continues to impress.
“We saw him through the pre-season and thought he had some pretty good talent,” Hinkley said of the three-game defender. “Just goes to show how someone can get through a whole draft (and miss selection) – and then grow (if given an opportunity).
Logan Evans has impressed in his first three games at AFL level after being picked up by Port Adelaide in the mid-season draft. Image: AFL Photos.
“Drafting can be a hit-and-miss moment. There are players such as Logan Evans who can play even if they miss the draft. He has been fantastic for us and looks like he has a really bright future.”
JOSH CARR: With West Coast creating the first coaching vacancy, Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr will be seen as a candidate.
“It is really clear in my mind that Josh will be an outstanding coach,” Hinkley said. “I would love that to be at Port Adelaide. If Josh has something he wants to pursue (elsewhere) I would be very supportive of Josh.”