PORT ADELAIDE senior coach Ken Hinkley has openly admitted he wants his side to play a more attacking brand of football in season 2019.
Hinkley and the coaching group know it will take a little bit of time to become a really consistent team with an adjustment to the game-style, but they are starting to see some of the benefits early in the season.
Port is ranked first in the AFL for disposals and inside 50s in 2019, and also sit second for mark play on percentage, suggesting the side is playing a faster brand of football.
Last night the team on Fox Footy’s flagship program On the Couch lauded what Ken Hinkley’s side has been able to achieve over the first five rounds of the season.
Garry Lyon was full of praise after Port’s impressive 42-point win over West Coast at Optus Stadium on Good Friday.
“I thought that was the best performance of the year,” Lyon said.
“Kenny Hinkley flagged this in pre-season. He said this is the way we want to play. We can’t be conservative.
“To say it is one thing but to go out and execute it is spot on. That is Kenny Hinkley and his team saying, yep we’ve written it now let’s go and live it and they’re living it.
“Five weeks in, they are one of the good stories.”
Former Lions champion Jonathan Brown said a shift in Hinkley’s game-style has allowed the Power to keep the ball inside their forward half - something they were able to accomplish against the Eagles.
“I think it was about 75 per cent in Port’s forward half of the ground which is an extraordinary number,” Brown said.
“That’s a focus of Kenny Hinkley and the coaching staff at Port Adelaide coming into the season.
“They just want to see the ball inside 50 a hell of a lot more.
“They have certainly had a game-style change, there is no doubt about that.
“If you look at the difference between 2018 and 2019, they are a hell of a lot more direct.
“They are willing to play on. Take the game on. And just get the ball inside 50 to give themselves scoring opportunities.”
Gerard Whateley was also passionate with his description of Port’s win at Optus Stadium and the start they have had to the season.
“I think the win of most significance looked like Port Adelaide,” he said.
“There’s a lot going right for them and I suspect that’s the coaching performance of the year thus far, what Ken Hinkley orchestrated there.”
Port quickly turns its attention to North Melbourne for a huge ANZAC Round clash on Friday night.
