Competition heading west to keep rolling
sure we go up there and do the right thing’.”
But in scenes rarely seen at AFL level, Hinkley was in the middle of the Power’s circle as they sang the song, and was pumping his arms and covered in water and sports drink as they toasted a successful day trip to the Gold Coast.
“It was his 300th game as a coach and player and he got AFL life membership, and he’s part of us just like any player, so it was special to get him in,”
Wines said. “He’s been so important for our group and we have such a good relationship with him, you probably saw the emotion a little bit coming out of him and the players.
“Him and the coaches and all our support staff all ride the punches with us, so to get that win he feels very proud.
“He can’t be out there with us, so to see us grind out a win like that it’s pretty special for him I think.”
Hinkley is in his eighth season as Port Adelaide coach and has the team on top after Round 6, with a ninth season of his tenure triggered by a finals appearance this season.
Wines missed the start of this season with a shoulder injury then was forced to sit out Round 2 after breaching coronavirus restrictions by doing a TV interview at home. But he has been back since Round 3 and on Sunday had 20 disposals and six clearances as he continues to build his form.
Perth Stadium will host three Round 9 games in front of crowds of 30,000 — Hawthorn-Carlton, FremantleCollingwood and West CoastGeelong — as football’s portable season relocates out of NSW and Victoria.
It would be the first time Geelong has played against Kelly since the star midfielder requested a trade back home last year.
The West Australian government will consider allowing capacity crowds of 60,000 again in two weeks.
News Corp understands the AFL is forking out around $3 million every week on interstate hubs to keep the season rolling. They are expected to continue for the bulk of the season.
The AFL is paying for everyone’s meals, accommodation, transportation and COVID-19 tests.
The lengthy break between the Fremantle and Collingwood games will lead to questions of how Geelong will use the time given its bye curse.
It has a 1-12 record over the past nine seasons coming off home-and-away and finals byes.
The only game Geelong has won in that stretch was the 2016 qualifying final when Hawthorn’s Isaac Smith had a chance to win the game after the siren.
The time between Thursday night’s game against Collingwood and the Fremantle clash is similar to what Geelong would have to contend with for a mid-season bye.
Coach Chris Scott said in 2018: “We haven’t played well off the mid-season bye. That’s real. We have got to look at all the ways in which we can improve that.”
Geelong will have to wait until late in Round 8 before it can play again because of the 14-day quarantine requirement in Western Australia.
It is anticipated Geelong would meet West Coast in Round 9.
The latest fixture release is expected to come ahead of a condensed block of games, with a fixture cram looming for the middle of the season.
Each club is expected to play four games in as little as three weeks, backing up off four and five-day breaks.
Geelong is also planning for a scratch match against Collingwood this week in Perth.
The Fremantle clash will be the first Monday night game the Cats have played in since Round 9, 1996 when they played Collingwood at the MCG.