SHORT AND SHARP

Pittard is staying, says Hinkley

DUMPED Port Adelaide defender Jasper Pittard wants to remain at the club, says coach Ken Hinkley. The former Geelong Falcon, a potential target of clubs in his native Victoria when falling into free agency at season’s end, has been dropped for today’s match against Brisbane. But Hinkley says Pittard’s long-term future is separate from a form slump that led to his omission from the twilight Adelaide Oval fixture. “I know one thing — Jasper wants to play for Port Adelaide,” Hinkley said. “No one takes it great — you lose your spot in the side and you’re a proud person. Jasper is that. “Like any player, he’s disappointed but he’ll respond and he will get back.”

Scott scoffs at bye bogy

GEELONG coach Chris Scott says he would be crazy not to dig deeper into his team’s struggles after byes, but he isn’t overly worried. West Coast’s 13-point win on Thursday night was the sixth year in a row the Cats have lost the week after their mid-season bye. “We have had a good look at it,” Scott said. “But it is actually not true. There was a bye last year before the finals and we won the next week. Sometimes these things can grow legs, even when they are false. And I think you have to be very careful in looking back seven years.” Geelong will have to wait until Monday to find out if captain Joel Selwood will be available to take on Fremantle, having been reported for striking West Coast’s Sam Mitchell. The AFL late Thursday clarified misinformation after it was initially reported that Mitchell was reported. The Cats are confident Scott Selwood and Nakia Cockatoo will not be sidelined long after suffering “minor” hamstring strains.