PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley says he will drop out-of-form players in the wake of his side’s 10-point loss to the Sydney Swans on Thursday night.

The result saw Port slump to a 5-8 win-loss record and leave the club’s final hopes in tatters.

Five talking points: Sydney Swans v Port Adelaide

A frustrated Hinkley said he was still clinging to the chance the players would turn things around, but changes need to be made.

"My responsibility as coach is to reward people if they deserve to come up but also make sure people understand that there's a level you have to deliver to hold your spot in the side," Hinkley said.

"There are players who are not in good enough form to play in AFL football at the moment so we have to be prepared to look at that.

WATCH: Ken Hinkley's full post-match press conference

"We have got to be prepared to look at everything at the moment and try and make some things look better."

A costly 15-minute period on Thursdsay night all but ended the club’s finals aspirations for 2015.

The Power led by one point at the nine-minute mark of the third quarter when Jay Schulz tackled Ted Richards and brought the Swans defender to the ground.

Play was stopped for about five minutes as medical staff attended to the motionless Richards, who was eventually taken off the field on a motorised cart.

The Swans kicked the next four goals after play resumed to open up a 24-point advantage with a quarter to play.

Hinkley described that period as the crucial moment in the match.

"We didn't stand up for those 16-17 minutes in the back half of the third quarter in the toughest way that you have to in footy," Hinkley said after the match.

"Sydney did."

The Power host Collingwood next week in the final Thursday night fixture of the season.