Hinkley to keep emotions in check

John McCarthy in action for Port Adelaide last season. Picture: Patrick Gorunovs. Source: The Advertiser

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley expects his players to deal with their toughest challenge so far - honouring team-mate John McCarthy - with their best football rather than their raw emotions.

Seven months after McCarthy died during his holiday to Las Vegas, the Power players will tonight dedicate their home-season opener against Greater Western Sydney to McCarthy's memory.

But the emotional hold McCarthy has over his former team-mates was highlighted yesterday when Port released part of the video tributes to be shown on AAMI Stadium's big screens at 6.45pm before the minute's silence.

Midfielder Hamish Hartlett breaks down as he remembers McCarthy.

This telling sign of how McCarthy affects the Port players even today has made Hinkley wary of building the former midfielder into his pre-game strategies.

"It is really hard - the emotional part," said Hinkley, who was not at Alberton last year, McCarthy's only season at Port.

"How long is (that emotion) going to last? Once the contest starts, is it influencing the players and their behaviour?

It is a significant game for them and they want to honour J-Mac

"We hope not. Because I know their behaviours will change their outcomes and it is most important for us that we get the right behaviours.

"We have to bring them back to the focus of playing football as much as we possibly can.

"Obviously there is some stuff we won't be able to control, but we have to remind the boys what makes them good players."

Hinkley yesterday praised his players for being "measured" in a week when they have faced many distractions sparked by the euphoric external reaction to the Power's rise to the top of the AFL ladder after thrashing Melbourne by 79 points at the MCG on Easter Sunday.

"They have been really measured," Hinkley said.

"It is a significant game for them and they want to honour J-Mac. But importantly they also know they can do that best by playing football.

"Sure, when we get closer to game time that may be a little bit different for them. But I hope they are really measured."

Hinkley, his coaching director Alan Richardson and fitness coach Darren Burgess - none of whom were at Alberton with McCarthy last season - have had to rely on the players to map the Power's preparation for tonight's game. Their command of training at AAMI Stadium yesterday morning reaffirmed Hinkley's belief they are focused on honouring McCarthy with their best football tonight.

"We certainly have had input from the players about what they would like and how they would like to do it - we (the senior coaching staff) haven't lived what they have had to live," said Hinkley. "We're asking them what they would like to do. But we also have to take control and bring them back to footy."

Hinkley says his pre-game presentation will not overload the Power players with the emotions of McCarthy, vice-captain Brad Ebert's 100th game and last season's damaging 34-point loss to GWS.

"Our performance; no doubt we will focus on our performance," said Hinkley of his pre-game approach.

"And making sure we bring our performance. If we do that, we will be OK.

"The emotional parts of football will always be there and they will be recognised as they should be. We will recognise them then and then hopefully go out and play football we need to play."

Hinkley is expecting no fall away from Port's stunning performance against the Demons after a week of glowing praise of his team.

"We are lucky as a club; we understand where we are at," said Hinkley.

"We're not fooled by one performance or the pre-season. We know we have to turn up again and play good footy again in round two and round three.

"That is what AFL football demands of you. It is not always easy to do, but we have to go there thinking we have to play at our best."

Hinkley is reluctant to rake over the coals of the loss to the Giants at the Sydney Showgrounds in August when the Power was sent into crisis.

"There's always opportunities in football to look back - and that is a dangerous thing to do," said Hinkley.

"We have to focus on what we are doing now. We have to produce what we have done in the pre-season and round one."

GWS captain, former Crows defender Phil Davis, acknowledged the Giants were entering an ambush at AAMI Stadium.

But the Giants will join the emotional tribute for McCarthy by wearing black arm bands and joining the minute's silence before the start of the game.

"John was such a great member of the football community that we all felt his very tragic loss," said Davis.

"(Last year's result) adds to the emotion for Port Adelaide - that game cost Matty Primus his job.

"We also know (Port) was sensational last week - Ken Hinkley has them playing a great game. So they are going to be a very hard side to beat.

"We expect a tough, hard-working group - and its (vice-captain) Brad Ebert's 100th game.

"So there is a fair bit going on. But we're also looking for our first win outside Sydney."

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