Just 10 minutes earlier he was sent off in a cab by general manager Peter Rohde, but Angus Monfries hurting his hip flexor in the final warm-up led the Power to send a late SOS.
A traffic jam stopped him kitting up and taking his position on the bench until well into the first quarter.
Five talking points: Gold Coast v Port Adelaide
“He was halfway back to the airport. He got caught in a bit of a traffic jam on his way back to the game – can you believe that – there’s not much traffic on the Gold Coast,” Ken Hinkley said.
“We were mindful, but ten minutes before the game you think you’re pretty safe.
“It’s only happened once that I remember before, that was at the MCG with Geelong.
“It can throw you a bit, especially a minute and a half before the game.
“Monfries, in the last warm up…couldn’t kick the ball. His hip flexor just went on him.
“Fortunately, I suppose, we brought two emergencies up.”
Hinkley is confident he will have Monfries and fellow late withdrawal Jackson Trengove back for Friday’s clash with Carlton.
“It’s nothing I think that will worry (Monfries) for next week, it’s just one of those things that can happen at strange moments,” Hinkley said.
“‘Jacko’ got stood on in training on Wednesday. He said he was still feeling it a little yesterday. Then the weather helped us. We weren’t going to need to take a risk.”
After a starring performance, Hamish Hartlett also left the field early with an ankle injury, but again the Power coach does not think the injury is serious.
“He just gave his ankle a little tweak, nothing that would give him any problems going forward,” Hinkley said.
“He was halfway back to the airport. He got caught in a bit of a traffic jam on his way back to the game – can you believe that – there’s not much traffic on the Gold Coast,” Ken Hinkley said.
“We were mindful, but ten minutes before the game you think you’re pretty safe.
“It’s only happened once that I remember before, that was at the MCG with Geelong.
“It can throw you a bit, especially a minute and a half before the game.
“Monfries, in the last warm up…couldn’t kick the ball. His hip flexor just went on him.
“Fortunately, I suppose, we brought two emergencies up.”
Hinkley is confident he will have Monfries and fellow late withdrawal Jackson Trengove back for Friday’s clash with Carlton.
“It’s nothing I think that will worry (Monfries) for next week, it’s just one of those things that can happen at strange moments,” Hinkley said.
“‘Jacko’ got stood on in training on Wednesday. He said he was still feeling it a little yesterday. Then the weather helped us. We weren’t going to need to take a risk.”
After a starring performance, Hamish Hartlett also left the field early with an ankle injury, but again the Power coach does not think the injury is serious.
“He just gave his ankle a little tweak, nothing that would give him any problems going forward,” Hinkley said.
