Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he's just as nervous this year as in 2013. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited
PORT Adelaide now has to prove it is not a one-season wonder - and that challenge has made second-year coach Ken Hinkley feel pressure.
Hinkley moved out of his long apprenticeship as an AFL assistant coach 12 months ago to take charge of the "basket case" Power team.
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A year later, Hinkley and his players have to back up the dramatic rise they made to become an AFL semi-finalist.
"Round one last year was my most nervous day (in football)," Hinkley said.
"And now it is not that much different.
"I still feel the pressure. This time it is about continuing what we did last year - wanting to see us play consistent football."
That pressure is measured in ensuring Port beats Carlton - a team that defied the Power surge twice last year - on Sunday night at the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne that has troubled the Power for the past eight years.
Hinkley last night named four new faces in the Port line-up - and stayed true to his formula of working just one specialist ruckman.
Hinkley chose Matthew Lobbe to lead the ruck battery ahead of Brent Renouf, despite elevating the Hawthorn premiership ruckman from the rookie list on Thursday.
He gave defenders Tom Clurey and Jarman Impey their first AFL games - and Brisbane recruit Jared Polec and Richmond free agent Matt White for their first premiership games as Power players.
"We have rewarded players who have been picked for their form in the pre-season," Hinkley said.
"We've stayed true to our word that we would reward form. You can't go too far wrong that way."
Clurey, a second-round draftee in 2012, certainly proved himself in last Saturday's trial game by holding St Kilda captain and key forward Nick Riewoldt to just one goal at Alberton Oval.
Impey, a second-round draftee in November, has shown extraordinary composure for an 18-year-old in the pre-season.
Hinkley reaffirmed key forward John Butcher will play despite not completing training at Adelaide Oval on Thursday when he took a knock to the inside of a leg.
"I guarantee he is right to go," Hinkley said.
Butcher's place in the power attack made it easier for Hinkley to resist playing two specialist ruckmen.
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Fellow key forward Justin Westhoff and key defender Jackson Trengove will support Lobbe in ruck.
"That is the way we worked the ruck in the second half of last year - and I'm comfortable with that option again," Hinkley said.
"It was a line-ball call between Lobbe and Renouf, but Lobbe gets the call because of his form in the last half of last year."
Port's troublesome note from the pre-season games against Adelaide, Essendon and St Kilda was poor starts - a trap it cannot repeat against Carlton now that the Blues have adopted coach Michael Malthouse's new defensive strategies.
"We've had a good chat about that," Hinkley said.
"And it all comes down to our mindset - that is what will dictate our behaviour."
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