Kanga heartache: Surging Roos go super close to reeling in 39-point deficit
True believers sticking around for Giants
ByJonathan Drennan
There are a few brave souls left in the Giants cheer squad who have remained sitting on the open stand in torrential rain at Sydney Showground, as they still believe.
Although the game looks out of reach, there is a glimmer of hope for the future with the two goals from debutant Max Gruzewski who has impressed in the VFL.
Errol Gulden and James Rowbottom are the two men in contention for the Brett Kirk Medal for the player who is judged best on ground.
The gap has been shown between the two sides today.
Harvey Thomas has kicked a goal to open the last term.
Swans 88, GWS 52 with 19 mins remaining.
I’m not going to surrender’: Hinkley
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.
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 – and has 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.”
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