TOUGH TIME FOR POWER

COACH Ken Hinkley said it wasn’t the right time to judge Port Adelaide’s season following a second straight exit at the preliminary final stage.

But Port fans will be wondering just what progress their side has made as the uncomfortable question starts to be asked by the Power faithful: “Have we actually gone backwards this year?”

The Power had the ideal preparation, a week off, a near-full strength list and playing against a side that had to travel from Victoria, to Tasmania, Brisbane, Perth then Adelaide. The Bulldogs couldn’t even train on the oval a day before the game.

Yet from the first clearance, the Power got nowhere near the Bulldogs.

Power great Kane Cornes described the 71-point belting as “an embarrassment”.

“This will leave a lasting legacy on a lot of footballers’ careers,” he said.