After winning just two finals in 10 years, Port Adelaide have had the gauntlet thrown their way in a season that is shaping as do-or-die for Ken Hinkley.
Fresh off their Round 13 bye, the Power now have a crucial clash at ENGIE Stadium against Greater Western Sydney this Sunday evening – a match that could either solidify their place in the top four until at least after the byes, or have them slip as low as eighth by the end of the weekend.
And with a tough draw to come heading into September, Hinkley’s 12-year legacy at the club could hinge on the upcoming 11 weeks.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday night, two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King referenced the club’s lack of success on the big stage, and subsequently their inability to beat the best – especially when it matters.
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“In August last year when they re-signed Ken, it was to win big games, big finals – last year was the year they were setting for, (and) clearly it didn’t go their way out in straight-sets,” King begun by saying.
“It’s games like this weekend against top-eight teams that separate the top-four prospects, top-eight prospects or are you an also-ran.
“When you’ve been there 11 or 12 years, it’s not about the list – because this is your list. You’ve built it, you’ve cultivated, your method is embedded, it’s about: ‘Does it stack up or not?’”
“Against the best teams is really all we’re qualifying now with Port; I’m not really judging their numbers against the rest – because they’ve always brained the rest, and won two finals in 10 years.”
Port this season have smashed West Coast (50 points), Essendon (69 points) and North Melbourne (59 points), with the Bombers the only side in the top half of the ladder of note.
A win on the road against Geelong in Round 9 was a massive tick next to their name, and looked to be perhaps a turning point in their season after a so-so start to 2024.
However, a recent six-goal loss to Carlton at home has brought them back down to earth heading into the mid-season break.
“Where they’ve fallen short against the top eight teams in the last two seasons, and that’s been their ability to stop the opposition doing what they want to do with the ball and when they go inside forward 50,” King continued.
“The only way you see when it’s fixed, is against the better teams – this week it’s a big opportunity isn’t it, they’ve got the GWS Giants but they’re on the road; it’s hard to win on the road we know.”
King goes on to label matches against St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Adelaide as matches they ‘should’ win – with only the Saints game in the list of four being played outside of South Australia.
“These are the games (remaining) I think they should win; if they are a top four team, they should beat those teams,” he said.
The two-time All-Australian pointed out the remainder of their fixture, and how they will need to win 15 – if not 16 – games this season to make the top four; a luxury that Port will almost certainly need to legitimise their premiership credentials given their struggle to beat the league’s best sides, particularly away from Adelaide Oval.
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“These are the games that separate Ken, from the rest – can you get it done, and show that this is the group, the midfield and system that can do it, because we’ve talked about this for too long, and when you re-sign a guy after 10 or 11 years, these are the games you talk about,” King added.
“This is a team that’s built for this now; they’re not redeveloping or resetting … there’s no excuses. This is why we’re looking at the next couple of weeks, because this is it. This is why you’ve taken this path with the coach and the current structure – and if it fails, well the answers are simple.”
Captain Connor Rozee will become available for the Power this weekend coming back from an ankle injury, while small forward Willie Rioli has been listed as a test for the match.
Port Adelaide’s remaining fixture
Round 14: Giants at Engie Stadium
Round 15: Lions at Adelaide Oval
Round 16: Saints at Marvel Stadium
Round 17: Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval
Round 18: Suns at People First Stadium
Round 19: Tigers at Adelaide Oval
Round 20: Blues at Marvel Stadium
Round 21: Swans at Adelaide Oval
Round 22: Demons at MCG
Round 23: Crows at Adelaide Oval
Round 24: Dockers at Optus Stadium