IF ANYONE has a way to stop Brisbane ball-magnet Lachie Neale, Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is all ears.
The Power are hoping to discover the kryptonite to curtail Neale's Superman efforts when they host the Lions in a crucial encounter at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Neale has been unstoppable against the Power, picking up 43 disposals and eight clearances in their 17-point win at the Gabba in round three.
Neale had the ball on a string back earlier this season. Picture: AFL Photos
It wasn't a one-off – Neale has averaged 37 disposals against the Power in his five matches, but the rest of the competition hasn't been spared.
Neale is leading the League in clearances, handballs and effective disposals while he is third in average disposals (32.4 per game) and fourth in contested possessions.
Collingwood went the closest to stemming Neale's influence when they kept him to 24 disposals in their round five victory over the Lions.
"Every side in the competition has tried (to stop him), but I don't think it's been successful," Hinkley said.
"As a team, you've got to limit the damage their team does to us.
"Lachie's one part of the team, so is (Dayne) Zorko, so is (Hugh) McCluggage, so is (Stefan) Martin, so is (Luke) Hodge, (Daniel) Rich, Charlie Cameron.
"They're such a good team and they've really developed quickly."
The Power have used Dan Houston in run-with roles in recent weeks, while former Fremantle utility Cam Sutcliffe could also play as a tagger if chosen to make his Power debut.
Hinkley confirmed 27-year-old Sutcliffe would be in their extended 26-player squad as a reward for strong SANFL form since being thrown an AFL lifeline in the NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.
"He's played in all three parts of the ground – he's played on ball, he's played down back and he's played in the forward line – so gives us a lot of flexibility," Hinkley said.
"And he's worked damn hard, he was (picked up in the) mid-season draft, to get himself in a position where he's considered seriously for AFL selection is great credit." - Ken Hinkley
Former captain Travis Boak trained on Thursday to prove he's overcome a back injury that kept him out of last weekend's Showdown smashing of Adelaide, while ruckman Scott Lycett will be given more time to prove his fitness as he overcomes knee soreness.
"Because it's only Thursday and we're going to train again Saturday, we didn't run Scotty much today deliberately," Hinkley said.
"We think Boak and Lycett are going to play."
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Lycett's inclusion means 2017 All Australian ruckman Paddy Ryder will be overlooked for a fourth straight week.
The emergence of Dougal Howard as a key forward, playing in conjunction with Charlie Dixon in attack, has meant there is no spot for Ryder.
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"We're not abandoning two rucks," Hinkley said.
"We need to make sure that that second player has the ability to impact more as a forward, and that's what Dougal's been about to do with Charlie back in the side, we've been comfortable with that.
"The likelihood of Scott and Ryder being in the side is probably unlikely."
