PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is adamant ruckman Paddy Ryder will remain at the Power next year despite losing his spot in the side for Saturday night's clash with Geelong at Adelaide Oval.
Ryder has struggled to adapt to spending time up forward while losing the No.1 ruck role to recruit Scott Lycett this season.
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The 31-year-old – who was the 2017 All-Australian ruckman and the Power's best and fairest that year – is out of contract at the end of the season, but Hinkley is certain Ryder will be retained.
"It's not even a question I want to entertain, but I expect Paddy to be at our club next year," Hinkley told reporters on Friday.
"Paddy's a part of our furniture and he's much loved at our football club.
"Just because he gets a bit older, everyone starts to jump at conclusions.
"This bloke's just a little bit out of form, he's not getting thrown out of our footy club.
"We love him too much."
Hinkley believes Lycett and Ryder can co-exist in the same team, even with key forward Charlie Dixon returning from a long-term leg injury.
This bloke's just a little bit out of form, he's not getting thrown out of our footy club - Ken Hinkley on Paddy Ryder
"It really became about form and form alone," Hinkley said.
"We can challenge any side if all those boys were in really top nick, we'd be scary to face.
"We'd love to see the opportunity, hopefully one day soon, that all our talls are playing really well together."
Ryder was one of four changes to the Power side, along with veteran Justin Westhoff, midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper and defender Jarrod Lienert, with Dixon, co-captain Ollie Wines, midfielder Brad Ebert and defender Joel Garner being recalled.
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Westhoff's axing is a dramatic fall from grace for last year's Power best and fairest.
It ends a streak of 135 consecutive games for the 32-year-old swingman, who has played a variety of roles for the Power this season.
"He's just had some battles, people get out of form," Hinkley said.
"His first game of this year, he kicks five (goals) straight and since then, he perhaps hasn't played the footy he'd like to play.
"Off and on, he's been OK, but he's the first to admit … his form just hasn't been where it needs to be."
The Power (6-6) are just outside the top eight and face a massive task in toppling a Cats outfit that is 11-1 for the season.
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The Cats have also won 14 of their past 15 games against the Power, but have lost the past seven times the week after a bye.
"Hope it's eight," Hinkley said.
"I'm sure Chris (Scott) has spoken to them about that, it's a challenge he has put in front of his group.
"Our challenge is to perform at our best, not to worry if they are coming off a bye.
"It wouldn't change our attitude to Geelong. We will be coming at them as hard as we possibly can, understanding they are a super-talented side that is going to take our absolute best (to beat)."
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