Returning pair Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove will add significantly to Port on Saturday, says coach Hinkley
PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley had no concerns in bringing skipper Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove straight back into the side to face Collingwood on Saturday.
The recall of Boak was straightforward, Hinkley said, because he had missed just one game due to finger surgery.
A natural competitor, Hinkley said Trengove's personality, as well as an expected match-up on Collingwood superstar Travis Cloke made recalling him straight into the senior side a simple decision.
"Jackson's the same [as Boak] in lots of ways, he's a real leader of the football club …with aggression and intensity at the contest and we really have missed him," Hinkley said.
"He's done enough training.
"[Aggressive players] want to be in a contest and 'Jacko', for three weeks now we've seen he's ready to go, he's wanting to get in a contest and we're happy to bring him out there.
"The possibility of them having a great forward up the front in Travis Cloke was one that played a big part in [his recall] … he's a significant player for them."
The Power will obviously enter Saturday's crucial encounter buoyed by their impressive upset win over the Sydney Swans last weekend.
It was a performance further proving to Hinkley that his side's best was good enough to test anyone in the competition.
But he insisted complacency against the Magpies was no concern.
"They're a good group, they know they've got to turn up and work hard," he said.
"I think they trained really well again this week and they're looking forward to another challenge.
"We've shown that our best football's good enough to compete with the good sides in the competition and we got a remainder last week."
Hinkley said assistant Alan Richardson's comments that he'd prefer to work at Port than chase a senior coaching role at Melbourne reflected the growing culture at Alberton.
Richardson told The Advertiser he hadn't considered applying for the Demons' job because he was happy at Port Adelaide.
"I remember [David] 'Kochie' saying early on he wanted our club to be a fun place to go to work and I think once you get [that] anyone's reluctant to leave it," he said.
"Richo for me, as long as he's around I want him to be part of the Port Adelaide Football Club, but that would never be at the expense of trying to chase something."
Both clubs will run through the same banner on Saturday afternoon in respect of the late John McCarthy, who represented both before his tragic death last year.
Hinkley said it was a "good little recognition of 'J-Mac'".
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry