Walsh looms large in Port win
The influence of Phil Walsh loomed large in Port Adelaide’s gritty three-point AFL triumph against Collingwood, Power coach Ken Hinkley says.
But Hinkley says the vital victory washed over him as he continued to mourn the death of his friend.
“I haven’t even thought about the game too much,” Hinkley said at his post-match media conference.
Walsh, who spent last season working as an assistant coach to Hinkley, was allegedly murdered by his son last Friday.
“A bloke like Phil was really important to our footy club – and special,” Hinkley said.
“We had some good times with Phil. It has been tough for everyone. We’re not on our own here, I mean (Walsh’s wife) Meredith and the family – please.
“It’s just a tragic thing that has happened.
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“But we stuck together and that is what you do.
“Even when it’s really, really tough, all you can do is stick with your family and Port Adelaide is one big family.”
In the first AFL match at Adelaide Oval since Walsh’s death last Friday, Port Adelaide revived its slim finals hopes, with Chad Wingard slotting three goals in the tight win.
Port triumphed 9.12 (66) to 9.9 (63) at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval, the loss coming with additional cost for Collingwood.
The Magpies are set to lose Taylor Adams to suspension after the midfielder had dropped a knee into the head of Port’s Justin Westhoff.
In an unsavoury third-term incident, Adams had Westhoff pinned beneath him as the pair wrestled and the Collingwood onballer lowered his right knee in the side of the Power player’s head.
Westhoff was a central character in Port’s sixth win of the season to keep them within reach of the top eight.
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The 199cm Westhoff roamed far and wide, collecting 26 disposals, while teammates Ollie Wines (33 touches), Travis Boak (28 possessions) and Robbie Gray (two goals) were prominent.
The Magpies, secure in the top eight despite their sixth defeat, were brilliantly served by villain Adams (36 disposals) and stalwarts Scott Pendlebury (26 disposals) and Dane Swan (33 possessions).
The first half swung wildly: Port dominated, then Collingwood stormed back into the game.
The Power held the visitors scoreless until the 19th minute and kicked 5.3 to 1.1 in an opening blitz.
But the tide rapidly turned in the second stanza as Collingwood scored four unanswered goals – the last, a stunning 45-metre checkside on the run from Adam Oxley, levelled the scores.
A late Angus Monfries goal helped Port to a seven-point halftime lead before both sides kicked two goals in a third term marred by Adams’ indiscretion.
Port held an 11-point buffer at the last change and Wingard soon stamped his influential game with his third goal for an 18-point break.
The gallant Magpies responded with a pair of goals but Port prevailed in a frantic finish.
Match details
PORT ADELAIDE 5.3 6.6 8.11 9.12 (66)
COLLINGWOOD 1.1 5.5 7.6 9.9 (63)
Goals: Port Adelaide: C Wingard 3 R Gray 2 A Monfries J Impey J Schulz J Westhoff. Collingwood: A Fasolo A Oxley J Crisp J de Goey J Elliott J White J Witts S Pendlebury T Adams.
Best: Port Adelaide: O Wines C Wingard J Westhoff T Boak M Broadbent R Gray. Collingwood: T Adams D Swan S Pendlebury S Sidebottom T Langdon.Umpires: Simon Meredith, Chris Kamolins, Mathew Nicholls.
Official Crowd: 45,418 at Adelaide Oval.
– AAP
