PORT Adelaide has plans in place if winger Jared Polec requests a trade to North Melbourne, but coach Ken Hinkley is adamant the talented outside runner hasn't made his mind up.
Polec highlighted his immense talent with another eye-catching performance, racking up 30 disposals in the Power's 22-point loss to Essendon at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The 25-year-old has had a career-best season, showing why the Kangaroos are prepared to reportedly offer him a lucrative five-year deal to move to Arden Street.
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Polec has put injury issues from early in his career aside to play 44 out of a possible 45 games in the past two seasons.
Hinkley hasn't given up hope of Polec staying at the Power, having played 90 games for the club in the past five seasons after requesting a trade back to South Australia citing homesickness after three years at Brisbane.
"We're prepared for both scenarios, every club is, it's part of the industry now," Hinkley said.
"That's OK, we'll deal with that if Jared decides to move on, he'll move on and we'll find a replacement.
"You always do. It's part of the game.
"We'll get some young players come to the club and we'll find the next young player."
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One of those scenarios could involve the Power asking for the Kangaroos' first-round draft pick – currently sitting at No.8 overall - in exchange for Polec.
Hinkley said Polec hadn't given him a decision one way or the other.
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"He hasn't made his mind up as yet, that's what I'm told," Hinkley said.
"I actually trust Polly in that space.
"A lot of people say he hasn't made his mind up yet, what he’s going to do.
"I'd say he's got an incredibly difficult decision based on emotional and financial (factors)."
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Hinkley was more bullish on 20-year-old midfielder Joe Atley, who is off-contract and has been linked to the Kangaroos to play alongside older brother Shaun.
The 32nd overall pick in the 2016 national draft, Atley played three games for the Power last year, but hasn't been able to get into a midfield featuring Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert, Tom Rockliff and Sam Powell-Pepper, while he's also been hampered by a back injury.
"I expect that he will be at the club," Hinkley said.
"Joey's a younger player, he's trying to develop himself, so there's not as much noise around Joe Atley, but I'd suspect that Joey would be part of the club next year."