Cats connected to country

GEELONG players Quinton Narkle, left, Steve Motlop and Nakia Cockatoo have given the thumbs-up to their club’s indigenous guernsey — featuring images of several prominent Geelong landmarks important to the Wathaurong people — ahead of tonight’s opening AF

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley forecasts more midfield time for Robbie Gray as his club seeks to end a decadelong hoodoo in Geelong.

Hinkley says Gray will be among several players asked to take up the slack, caused by the loss of injured Chad Wingard for tonight’s match in Geelong.

Wingard has been ruled out because of a calf strain, with Aaron Young his replacement for Port’s trip to a venue where it hasn’t won since 2007.

Geelong has made three changes, giving defender Jordan Cunico his debut.

He has struggled with injuries since joining the Cats through the 2014 draft.

The Cats are resting defender Tom Lonergan and have dropped Mark O’Connor, while Nakia Cockatoo has a hamstring injury. Cam Guthrie and Darcy Lang are the other Cats inclusions.

Gray has played mostly as a forward this season for the sixth-placed Power, but Hinkley says the triple club champion will spend more time in the midfield against Geelong.

But Hinkley has ruled out deploying a tagger on Geelong’s star onballer, Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield.

“We just play the way we have to play,” Hinkley said.

“Dangerfield, [Joel] Selwood, [Mitch] Duncan, [ Tom] Hawkins, [Stephen] Motlop – you go crazy sometimes worrying about them.”

Hinkley said the thirdplaced Cats would present a stiff challenge at any venue, let alone their home ground, adding it would take “four tough quarters” for his side to bank a rare win in Geelong.

“I saw them play first-hand last week against the Bulldogs, it was a cracking game right to the last quarter and that is what we have got to be willing to play this week,” Hinkley said.

“They are a really good football club and football team.”