Brendan Lines July 3, 2020

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says it’s ‘mission accomplished’ if the Power can make it three from three consecutive wins from it’s stay at the Gold Coast hub, as the Power face-off against top-four side Brisbane Lions at the GABBA this Saturday.

Port Adelaide’s undefeated run at the top is to be tested by an in form Lions who are coming into the game off three consecutive wins.

“For this part of the season, mission accomplished, that’s what we come here for, we’ve said that before, we come here to play three games of football and so far we’ve got two done and what’s important for us for us to get a third one done tomorrow night,” Hinkley says.

Hinkley will take an unchanged side into the game, Ryan Burton who just missed selection coming off his knee injury, leaves Port Adelaide’s list relatively free of major injury concerns aside from Xavier Duursma’s hamstring.

“We’re in pretty good form and obviously the boys that have been playing deserve to stay in the side,” he said.

Lions mid Lachie Neale will most likely be pressured from all sides not tagged says Port Adelaide Vice-captain Ollie Wines.

“In the past we have done team jobs, where guys do line up next to a player at a stoppage, they’re accountable to that player for a certain amount of time,” he said.

“Us as mids understand it’s not about how many possessions you get or particularly the impact you have on the game, it’s about the non-negotiables we hold so highly, we work hard we run together and out number at contests.”

Since moving to the Gold Coast hub in round three, Port Adelaide have managed to navigate their way through the adversity of the 2020 season taking wins and carrying little to injuries on its list.

An enviable position which Victorian
clubs will be looking very closely as they leave for their hubs next week.

Hinkley spoke about Port’s smaller list taken to the Gold Coast as a factor.

“To bring a smaller squad up here, we think it’s allowed us to get the maximum from performance, and that was our key thought was performance in mind and to win, clearly so far we’re pleased with that outcome,” he said.

Port Adelaide play Brisbane Saturday 7.10pm ACT.

Featured Image: Ken Hinkley – Image: Insidesport.com