Gray day ahead
PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says a “fresh’’ Robbie Gray is ready to return to his superstar best, while declaring the Power won’t tag Geelong gamebreaker Patrick Dangerfield at the Cattery tonight.
Hinkley, who has lost prime mover Chad Wingard to a minor calf strain, said a banged-up Gray had benefited from a week off and was ready to show the football world why he had won three consecutive club champion awards.
Dual All-Australian Gray has battled groin soreness all season and was handicapped in the 12-goal thumping of Gold Coast in China two weeks ago with a sore calf.
“We’re lucky (the bye) has come around when it did, it’s been very well timed,” Hinkley said as his team flew out of Adelaide on a mission to win at Kardinia Park for the first time since former captain Dom Cassisi’s match-winner with the final kick of the game in 2007.
Hinkley said Gray, who has spent much of this season stationed inside 50 because of his soreness and Wingard’s growth as an onballer, could see more midfield time against Geelong. “It’s a chance,’’ Hinkley said. “Obviously you lose someone out of there and you’ve got to replace them with something, so I think you’ll see Brendon (Ah Chee) and Robbie play some time in there, and Sam Gray and Aaron Young can also go through there.’’
Brownlow medallist Dangerfield was the match-winner in the Cats’ 23-point win against premiers Western Bulldogs last week with 36 disposals and four goals, but Hinkley said Port would not put a tight tag on him.
“We don’t have one to bring back in, so we’ll just play the way we play,” Hinkley said.