THE POOR kicking that cost Port Adelaide during its mid-season slump came back to haunt the Power in their heartbreaking loss to Hawthorn in Saturday's preliminary final at the MCG.
 
Port had 29 scoring shots to the Hawks' 22 but went down by three points in a thriller.
 

"We lost a prelim final today because we didn't kick the ball as accurately as we need to through the goals," coach Ken Hinkley said.
 
"We lost games in rounds 14 to 19 or 20 because we didn't kick the ball well, so that may have made us pay a price not just today but during that period.
 
"But you've just got to say that they're an incredibly brave group the way they just keep going.
 
"They had every right to roll over. They've had an amazing September.
 
"But we've got to get better. We don't want to lose, we want to play next week and we're not and that's the hard part."
 
Port started full of running, but wasted its early dominance by kicking 3.9 in the first quarter.
 

Still, Hinkley felt it was during the second and third quarters, when Hawthorn kicked 11 goals to the Power's five, that his men undid their good work.
 
"I think the second and third quarter were probably more of an issue for us than the start," he said.
 
"They were just a bit stronger around the contest. Certainly in the third quarter they got hold of us in clearances and got hold of the ball.
 
"They were able to push it forward enough and make the most of their chances."
 

Hinkey said he simply had to hope for the best during the final two minutes of the match, during which a number of crucial incidents took place, including Andrew Moore's missed shot at goal from 45m out on the boundary line.
 
"You just barrack," he said. "Go boys, go quick. Take it on and try to kick one.
 
"Moorey gets that shot for him. Gee, he's a brave young fella. He's had an amazing year considering what he's had to put up with, and to get that shot, he's hurting like you'd expect him to be hurting."
 
Midfielder Brad Ebert also made a crucial error when he marked a Hawthorn kick-out with one minute to go but had his kick smothered by Luke Hodge after playing on.
 
However, Hinkley said that Ebert "played Port Adelaide brave. That's what he did. He took off and he tried to win the game."
 
"And I'd rather him do that than do the opposite and have the siren go with the ball in his hands without taking the game on."
 
Despite the loss to the Hawks, Hinkley said he would look favourably upon Port's overall season.
 
"It's been a really strong consolidation year, I reckon," he said.
 
"No one thought we were any good. Let's be honest, if we went back to the start of the year (most people) said we couldn't make the finals again.
 
"That's the respect we have to earn, and I know now that we've got some of that.
 
"We've actually earned it, and those blokes in next door, my young players, they deserve that respect now."
 
As for whether the Power will continue to play attacking footy next season, Hinkley said: "I hope so. It's pretty exciting footy, isn't it?
 
"When you watch this group of young men play footy, they play exciting footy.
 
If you want to watch footy that's exciting and fun, come and watch Port Adelaide because we won't stop that.
 
"We'll keep playing that way."
 

Shattered Power players leave the field after their heartbreaking loss. Picture: AFL Media