Hinkley focuses on Power’s defence

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is putting the focus on defence in the match against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Picture: Morne de Klerk. Source: Getty Images

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has dismissed talk of an honourable loss against Sydney last week and will bring a voracious defence into Saturday's match against Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval.

In such a winning, winning season, Hinkley said the loss had stung the side into closely monitor the way it defends opposition sides.

The bottom line is this: let the other team reach 100 points first and you are in serious trouble.

Port has been lauded by several commentators after its first half of the season but Hinkley would not buy into the sentiments of Port having put up a great effort against Sydney.

It is a sign of raised ambitions at Alberton and a return to not accepting being second best no matter how well the Swans are travelling.

"We lost,'' Hinkley said.

"That's not a great effort. A great effort is when you win.

"You don't accept great effort, I don't think, and we're not going to be a football club that does that.

"We respect the Sydney football club and how good they were going and are going but we went up there to win and we're not happy.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley addresses the media after his side's close loss to the Swans at the SCG.

"I think we know we need to defend better. That's the simple message. We conceded 98 points last week and if you concede 98 points most weeks you're going to get beat.

"It's almost an old saying: first to 100 wins. If you're going to let them get to 98 it's pretty close. So we need to defend better.

"The top sides, and I can only go on recent history ... the top sides are in the top four defensive sides of the competition. Sides that are able to defend the hardest and the longest.''

It has been the theme of the week: in training, meetings and attitude.

Hinkley believes the key to maintaining the top of the ladder position is to be the best defender in the game, as much as he loves the attacking and brave ways he brought with him from his time at Geelong.

"I just want us to play good, strong, defensive football and hopefully we'll be able to kick a score after that,'' Hinkley said.

"If we defend really hard, we'll be okay.''

Several players will require close attention at the Oval on Saturday. Hinkley's main threats are from the senior brigade, which was instrumental in upsetting Collingwood last week.

"(Ryan) Griffen's been a great player for them, and (Will) Minson in the ruck,'' Hinkley said. "They've got some great experience and they've got (Matthew) Boyd back into the team.

"They've got some real top-end talent experience players and they've brought in some really exciting young players. They're players that we really need to keep an eye on.''