Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says he won’t surrender after being jeered by Power fans during a record 79-point loss to Brisbane.
The Lions roared into the AFL top eight by booting a dozen consecutive goals in their highest ever score against Port, winning 23.14 (152) to 10.13 (73) on Saturday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Hinkley faces the music after nightmare loss.
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Sections of the Port crowd roundly booed Hinkley when he was shown on Adelaide Oval’s big screens, and also post-match.
“It’s not fun. It’s not what I enjoy. It’s just what the reality is of my job” Hinkley said.
“If you can’t cope with it, you probably shouldn’t be in my job. I can cope with it. I don’t enjoy it, it’s not my favourite time.”
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said the abuse of Hinkley was the only downer of his day.
“For me, if there’s one disappointment about winning today’s game, it’s the fact that he got booed off the ground, I don’t like that,” he said.
“Coaching is a hard caper … I’m a big supporter of all coaches.
“His record here at this club is extraordinary and he shouldn’t be judged on one performance.”
Hinkley holds the record for most VFL/AFL games coached without reaching a grand final – 262 – with a winning percentage of 59.7.
And he’s far from writing off the season after a third consecutive loss leaves the Power in seventh spot, two premiership points above the Lions.
Referring to his young midfielders, who were collectively thrashed by Brisbane’s battle-hardened core, Hinkley said: “I know at their best they can cause any team some significant issues.
“I am not going to sit here and surrender, I won’t do that.
“I will sit here and say that I expect the boys to get better.”
But he conceded the Power were short of the league’s pacesetters.
“We have shown that we are OK, but we’re not one of the best teams in the comp, we sit below that – everyone agrees,” Hinkley said.
The Lions jumped to eighth spot ahead of Sunday matches in stunning style, scoring 12 consecutive goals from midway through the second quarter until midway through the third.
Forward Eric Hipwood slotted five goals in a victory orchestrated by dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale (37 disposals, 10 clearances) and his midfield mates Josh Dunkley (32 touches) and Zak Bailey (26, one goal).
Ruckman Oscar McInerney logged a career-high three goals and had eight clearances, and Joe Daniher also potted three majors.
Port crashed to their heaviest defeat to Brisbane – surpassing a 69-point loss in 2006 – but they had been within six points 10 minutes into the second quarter.
The Lions kicked the next 12 goals as Port, who lost Willie Rioli (calf) pre-match, meekly folded.
Vice-captain Zak Butters (35 touches, eight clearances) and skipper Connor Rozee (28 possessions) found few effective allies, though Mitch Georgiades kicked three goals in the Power’s fourth defeat in seven games.