On Friday, Ken Hinkley and Matthew Nicks have been collectively once more, smiling, laughing and with their arms round one another.
But the duo, who labored collectively when Nicks was a Power assistant from 2012-18, have been nonetheless not mincing their phrases concerning the feeling between the 2 SA golf equipment.
“There’s genuine hatred,” Hinkley stated.
“I’m not frightened to use the word ‘hatred’ because it’s a sporting rivalry.
“It’s not a personal thing in any way.
“I think everyone in this state loves the fact that both teams want to get each other and want to get them good.”
Hinkley’s Crows counterpart stated there was little question the hatred was mutual.
“We watch Port play on the weekends and we want them to lose,” Nicks stated.
“We don’t like them.”
Saturday night time’s Showdown is the primary since Tom Jonas and Ollie Wines’s “entitled and arrogant” barbs concerning the Crows’ “DNA” eight months in the past.
That week, the coaches carried out separate pre-match press conferences.
The Power made the last-minute name to return the favour to Adelaide for going solo in spherical 3 and hold it ready — then prevailed by 56 factors within the golf equipment’ closing recreation of the season.
“There were some things last year that were different so we’ve done what we should do,” Hinkley stated on Friday, when requested why he was again alongside Nicks.
“We’ll stand here together and we’ll lead the way, and show it’s a great game.”
Nicks stated final week he would attempt to provide you with one other Showdown line for the media.
He had trolled his former employer forward of the August match, calling it “Port Power”, however opted to not weigh in once more on Friday.
Just because the historical past and animosity between the golf equipment helps make the rivalry so enthralling, so too does the slim win-loss ledger.
Port Adelaide leads 27-25 and has gained 5 of the previous six.
Two of these outcomes — its August 2021 win and final April’s Jordan Dawson-inspired loss — have been by 4 factors.
“The Showdowns are the highlight, in my view, of a lot of AFL seasons,” Hinkley stated.
“We play these ridiculous games, one last year in round bloody 3 where the ball (from Dawson’s post-siren kick) looks like it’s moving out, then it’s moving in and I’ve seen a bounce (from an Angus Monfries shot in 2013) go my way.
“In the home-and-away season, this is as big a game as you get to play in.
“This is as big a build-up of any game in the competition, bar none.”
As all the time, it will likely be a troublesome tablet to swallow for the loser on Saturday night time.
Even extra so when it should imply a 0-3 begin for the Crows after a formidable pre-season or a 1-2 opening for Port Adelaide forward of a very tough journey to face Sydney on the SCG.
Adelaide is coming off a 32-point dwelling loss to Richmond and the Power is seeking to reply from a 12-goal defeat to Collingwood on the MCG.
With loads at stake, Hinkley denied this week’s build-up had been too placid.
“I know the tension that goes with the Showdown,” he stated.
“There’s enough tension going on in my world and our club.
“I’d much rather it be a much smoother and quieter week, but the reality is it’s not.
“It’s a Showdown and there’s a lot riding on it.”
THE TEAMS
Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7pm (native time)
POWER
B: R.Bonner, T.Jonas, T.Clurey
HB: D.Byrne-Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston
C: M.Bergman, W.Drew, X.Duursma
HF: J.Finlayson, T.Marshall, C.Rozee
F: Z.Butters, C.Dixon, S.Powell-Pepper
FOLL: S.Lycett, O.Wines, J.Horne-Francis
I/C: Okay.Farrell, T.Boak, J.Rioli, L.Jones
EMG: O.Fantasia, B.Teakle, J.Burgoyne, J.Mead
IN: R.Bonner, T.Clurey, J.Finlayson
OUT: O.Fantasia (omitted), M.Georgiades (omitted), J.Burgoyne (omitted), R.Burton (suspension)
CROWS
B: T.Doedee, N.Murray, M.Michalanney
HB: B.Smith, J.Dawson – C, M.Hinge
C: B.Keays, R.Laird, L.Sholl
HF: J.Rachele, L.Pedlar, J.Soligo
F: T.Walker, L.Gollant, I.Rankine
FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Sloane, S.Berry
I/C: J.Butts, W.Milera, L.Murphy, R.Thilthorpe
EMG: W.Hamill, C.Jones, E.Himmelberg, N.McHenry
IN: L.Gollant, J.Butts, W.Milera
OUT: E.Himmelberg (omitted), H.Schoenberg (omitted), D.Fogarty (knee), P.Parnell (concussion)
‘Slack’ younger Crow’s brutal self-assessment
– Simeon Thomas-Wilson
Sam Berry is sincere on his footy, similar to the way in which he performs it.
After a breakout yr in 2022, the place few might shake his grasp with Berry the very best tackler within the league, the younger Adelaide midfielder got here into this season with a objective of lifting his disposals of 17.6 per recreation.
And whereas he averaged an elite 9.5 tackles per recreation final yr he has solely averaged six up to now in 2023, with a one deal with effort in opposition to GWS in spherical 1.
“Personally I just wasn’t at the level as far of my pressure and around the contest,” Berry stated of his effort in opposition to the Giants.
And as for the way the 21-year-old plans to deal with this and get again to the elite hunter of the ball he was final yr, it’s in line with his perspective on the sphere.
“I think training is really important during the week because we only really get one main session,” he stated.
“So I like to go in with a couple of focuses to get done.
“If I had a bad game and was slack in a few areas on the weekend it is a great opportunity to try and bounce back and remind myself on how I need to do it.”
Berry had a powerful pre-season, which fuelled hope he might make a big bounce in his third yr and add extra possessions to his sturdy defensive recreation.
It remains to be a spotlight for the younger Crow, and he’s assured the fruits of his labour in pre-season will emerge.
“I feel like I have put myself in a pretty good position to start the year, now it is about focusing on performing on the weekend,” he stated.
“I think a lot of it is about confidence, there are a lot of craft things that I have been working through. Especially with Nathan van Berlo our midfield coach.
“I’ve been doing a lot with him, especially around the stoppage work.
“When I get my defence and my pressure right, winning the ball comes off the back of that.
“It has taken me a little bit to figure out once the ball leaves to get used, it is something that I’m still trying to work on.
“I’m really looking to try and do that this year.”
One factor Berry isn’t seeking to attempt to do extra of this yr is appearing.
Last month he — together with teammate Jake Soligo — starred in an Instagram video across the premise of him establishing his personal self-defence and tackling business, after his league-leading efforts final yr.
“I can’t even watch the video to be honest,” Berry stated.
“I struggle, I cringe at myself.
“Acting is not a strong point, it isn’t me but to be honest it probably turned out better than I thought it would.
“I was a bit like no I don’t know where this is going but they did well, Josh and the boys who the video did well.
“I definitely didn’t expect to be doing that when I woke up that morning.”
Rather Berry is much more eager to maintain having fun with Adelaide in his spare time.
From Maffra, 220km east of Melbourne, Adelaide is a spot that has grabbed a maintain of Berry.
“I love Adelaide, I think it is great,” he stated.
“Especially after being there a while and getting to know people outside the club.
“It is just a great place to live, I love the beach and those sorts of areas.
“It is just an easy place to live, I really enjoy it.
“Melbourne and Sydney they are just so busy where Adelaide is definitely toned down a lot.
“It is a lot easier, things aren’t as hectic and if you want to do something you can just drive 10 or 15 minutes.
“It is just so convenient.”
Originally revealed as Showdown 53 Port Adelaide v Adelaide 2023: All the newest news for the large spherical 3 match
Source: www.news.com.au
