Return of Aliir and Gray provides more Power
THE return of Aliir Aliir and Robbie Gray will have Port Adelaide walking taller against Carlton on Sunday, Power coach Ken Hinkley has said.
Port is the only club so far in the 2022 season which has not tasted victory after a horror start to the season.
A big part in this has been the inability of Charlie Dixon, Aliir and Gray to get on the park, with all missing games for the Power.
The Power’s finals chances are precariously placed with only Sydney in 2017 making the top eight from a worse start in the AFL.
Hinkley said even if the Power tasted defeat against Carlton he was confident his troops could still make finals.
“Of course we can, there still is a long way to go,” he said.
“It gets harder, but you know what, you get things going, get things back together, get some people coming in.
“I’m really optimistic about what we are bringing into the team this weekend, I think the Port Adelaide team this week is going to have a bit of confidence about it I think.”
While the Power has been boosted by the return of Aliir and Gray, it will be without reigning Brownlow medallist
Ollie Wines after his heart issue against Melbourne last match and has now lost No.1 ruckman Scott Lycett for three months due to shoulder surgery.
Hinkley said at times it did feel like luck was against the Power.
“We get (Jeremy) Finlayson back in the side, Robbie Gray back in the side, Aliir back in the side and then we lose Wines and Lycett,” the coach said.
“You know what, we are taking every one of those challenges head on and we are really happy to give young players an opportunity to improve.”