Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and his Crows counterpart Matthew Nicks kicked off their conventional joint pre-Showdown press convention with a hug, amusing and an insistence “we like each other” – earlier than taking turns so as to add gas to the AFL’s most acerbic rivalry.
Ahead of the bitter rivals’ most-recent stoush final August – which the Power received by 56 factors – the build-up was so acrimonious the 2 coaches took the uncommon step of conducting separate Showdown-eve press conferences.
The transfer got here after extraordinary assaults from Port captain Tom Jonas, who labelled the Crows “arrogant”, and Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines, who described them as “entitled”.
While any barbs thrown this week have been behind closed doorways, the antipathy prevails.
“It’s a genuine sporting rivalry and there’s genuine hatred,” Hinkley stated.
“I’m not frightened to use the word ‘hatred’ – it’s not a personal thing in any way.
“Everyone on this state loves the actual fact each groups need to get one another and need to get them good.
“In the home-and-away season, this is as big a game as you get to play.
“I’ve performed in Victoria and performed in some huge video games, a very long time in the past, however that is as huge a build-up of any home-and-away recreation within the competitors, bar none.”
After a 54-point opening-round win against the Brisbane Lions, Port came back to earth with a thud last Saturday, thumped by Collingwood by 71 points at the MCG.
Nicks and the rest of the Crows unashamedly jumped on the Magpies bandwagon for those two hours, as they do whenever the Power play.
“We watch Port play on weekends and we wish them to lose … we do not like them,” said Nicks, formerly an assistant coach under Hinkley at Alberton.
“It’s not a private grudge. It’s white-line, it is a battle.”
Key defender Jordon Butts, emerging forward Lachlan Gollant and livewire Wayne Milera are three quality ins for Adelaide.
But the Crows (0-2) will enter Saturday’s derby without spearhead Darcy Fogarty (knee) and young utility Patrick Parnell (concussion), who were both injured in last Saturday’s 32-point defeat to Richmond.
“Both groups are coming off (shedding) performances,” Nicks stated.
“We are as pissed off and upset as I’m positive Ken and his crew have been after final weekend.”
The Power (1-1) have lost backman Ryan Burton to suspension and omitted Mitch Georgiades, Orazio Fantasia and Jase Burgoyne but welcome back Jeremy Finlayson, Riley Bonner and Tom Clurey.
Also welcomed back is the opportunity to don their black-and-white “jail bars” following successful discussions with Collingwood and the AFL.
“It’s only a nice second for us,” Hinkley said. “Our heritage is getting acknowledged.
“A lot of people have worked really hard to make sure we get this opportunity to play in our state against our rival and wear the jumper that we as a football club connect to so greatly as a family.
“It’s an absolute honour to put on this jumper.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
