Port Adelaide senior coach Ken Hinkley will take the reins in a Showdown for the final time this weekend, as he prepares his side for Showdown LVIII. 

Sitting alongside Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks on Wednesday, Hinkley spoke to the Adelaide media in a warm and somewhat sentimental joint press conference.  

Hinkley discussed his personal highlights of the South Australian rivalry, his final few weeks in charge, and skipper Connor Rozee’s hand injury. 

Hinkley on Connor Rozee’s injury 
“We're training tonight. Well, we expect him to train tonight and see how he goes. If there's any risk, we won't play. There’s just no point in putting someone at risk. And he's got a crack in his hand, so it's pretty significant. So he was hopeful yesterday, but that doesn't mean you'll get through, so he might be there or he might not be there.” 

Hinkley on his final Showdown this weekend 
“Showdowns have been a special part of my journey, clearly, and I’ve been a part of so many, I'm really lucky. I've had some great memories, some not so great memories, but that's the great thing about Showdowns. I won't miss Showdowns, because as much as everyone says that they're good for the state, they're not so good for the coaches or the players, there's a bit of heat on them, and we look forward to having one last crack together. We never want to lose to them. That doesn't change, and they never want to lose to us. But when you lose in this town, in a Showdown, it's a little bit different.” 

Hinkley on his Showdown highlights 
“There have been so many, good or bad. Clearly early days, the (Angus Monfries) bounce was amazing for me. The Dawson goal wasn't so amazing for me. There’s all those things. There's just so many… we both share so many great memories, and everyone in South Australia share great memories of Showdowns.” 

Hinkley on taking on Adelaide’s three tall forwards  
“We don't think we've got a necessarily another tall that we would bring in to cater for what they've got. We’ve been lucky, we’ve had Lachie (Jones) being able to play reasonably tall at different times. Obviously, (Aliir) and Thatch can play tall, but pressure on the ball is what's going to make any difference to their talls. Because their talls, they've had a great year. Let's be honest. There's no missing messing around with that. They've been a very, very good footy team all year.” 

Hinkley on his final few weeks in charge 
“I think looking back to last week and going forward, I think we have six to go or something, five against the top six, it wasn't something you're going to enjoy, I don't think. I'd love us to have a couple of great wins in us. I'd love us to play some really good, strong footy, and that's what I'll enjoy. I’ll still enjoy the want to win with the boys, and that will all be there right to the very end. And that's what I look forward to. 

“We’re absolutely going to do our best. We've got no guarantees. We're going to do our best to try and (get some wins). As I said, the quality the opponents we come up against will have a fair bit to say in that. But you know, our best sometimes has been very, very good… don't give us a sniff.” 

Hinkley on Adelaide’s form 
“Without pumping them up too much, because that's not something I tend to do (but) they're the in-form team of the competition. They've had an unbelievable run. I think they’ve won about eight or 10 of the last 12 and have only lost by a couple of points in the couple they’ve lost. To me, they’re favourites to finish on top and I think that's right.” 

Hinkley on what a win in his last Showdown would mean 
“Not so much more than any other time on the Showdown, because they're all special events, but I like to win every game. I don't care whether it's a Showdown or whether it's a game down in Launceston or a game up in Canberra, where we've been this year, I just like to win. It's an ingredient you have to have to be a coach.” 

Hinkley on young talls Harry Ramm and Jack Whitlock 
“I think there's patience required regardless of your list position. We obviously have a lot of injury at the moment, and that's unfortunate, but there's also patience required for particularly tall forwards or tall backs. Both boys played really well last week. I won't say we wouldn't pick one of them this week, but it'd be unlikely.” 

Hinkley on Showdown banter 
“That’s the banter you hear all the time in (the lead-up to the Showdown). We heard it last year back our way. That's what players say, and that's what they should say. They should enjoy it. Theatre of the game is okay. Remember, I've said this a couple of times. It's okay, and I embrace it and I love it. I think anytime we can make the game a little bit more exciting, as long as we keep it in a place that it's not personal, it's not about family, we can live with that I think.” 

Hinkley on Matthew Nicks 
“I'm just so lucky that I've had a chance to work with Nicksy. He was one of the very first ones I spoke to when I first got the job. I actually was begging him to stay, in some ways, and I didn't really know him. I remember I rang you on the phone from Queensland, and said ‘we need to keep you’. And to his great credit, you've done nothing but support me in his time with us."

"He went on and created his own career with some courage, and I've just admired the way he's had to be as resilient as he's been. And I'll still have a Showdown connection, I’ll still look at Nicksy coaching, I’ll look at Josh coaching, and I'll look at Port playing. I’ll still enjoy the opportunity to watch a Showdown, but Matthew should be so proud of what he's done and to be as strong and as gutsy as he's been I reckon over the last few years, it'll hurt me to say I'm glad to see him doing well.”