JUSTIN Westhoff says coach Ken Hinkley's honest half-time speech and a tactical switch to match-up on Fremantle's loose man in defence were the catalysts for Port Adelaide's remarkable turnaround in the semi-final at Patersons Stadium.

 

The Power were 31 points down late in the second term of a game being played totally on the Dockers' terms.

 

Tendai Mzungu was dominant as the extra defender and Port was timid, stifled and its confidence was flagging.

 

But Hinkley found the keys to unlock Power's running game at the long break with some well-chosen words and some whiteboard moves.

 

"We were really disappointed with how we started the game," Westhoff said.

 

"Their spare was just having too much influence and to play six forwards has worked in the past. It is something we got to sometimes and it seemed to work tonight.

 

"It seemed to open up the corridor and let the mids run through there and that seemed to help our ball movement later in the game.

 

"At half-time (Hinkley) just wasn't happy with out attitude and the way we were going about it. It was the worst we've played for a couple of months, it just looked like we didn't want to win the game.

 

"He put it on the table and said there's no second chances and the boys responded and came home strong.

 

"We needed to get back to basics and get the game on our terms. We knew we were going to run out the game really hard and keep coming. The boys played unbelievable."

 

Once momentum turned, Hinkley was also quick to pounce on Freo's lack of defensive height, throwing Jackson Trengove down to stretch them, just as the Dockers did with Aaron Sandilands during their first-half dominance.

 

Westhoff was another who held sway at both ends of the ground with 12 marks and 20 possessions and looms as a key player next week. 

He said Port had plenty of fire in the belly for next Saturday's preliminary final against reigning premier Hawthorn.

 

"It's going to be tough but we'll go over there pretty confident. They are favourites to win it so we have just got to be confident and anything can happen in finals time," he said.