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AAP
AAP
Sport
Roger Vaughan

Port's case for the defence failing to stack up

Port's players looked downcast after their defence finally cracked in the Showdown. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Port Adelaide's team defence is a major worry for coach Ken Hinkley after Adelaide cracked them in a pulsating AFL Showdown clash.

The Power led early in the last quarter on Saturday, before Adelaide unleashed a six-goal burst and won by 31 points.

A week after Collingwood also overwhelmed his team, Hinkley lamented Port's inability to keep the Crows in check for long enough.

"We had most things where we wanted them - our game, our home - a pretty good game of football for three quarters and 10 minutes," Hinkley said.

"They were probably just a bit more willing to keep going right to the end. They got a bit of belief.

"Collectively, we couldn't defend this week and that was last week as well."

Hinkley said his players went too man-on-man, rather than sticking to the team defensive structures that served them well earlier in the match.

"We got a bit jumpy around what was happening to 'me', more than what was happening 'to the rest'," he said.

"Once you break a little bit and you let teams get through, clearly they were able to put some pressure on us, big time, and had quality in their front half that made us pay."

Port had won five of the last six Showdowns, but after threatening to break the game open in the second quarter, they eventually could not hold off the Crows.

Hinkley said it was no surprise that talented Adelaide forwards such as Riley Thilthorpe (five goals) and Izaak Rankine (four goals) had cut loose.

"You give them looks, you're eventually going to cop a couple and we copped more than a couple," Hinkley said.

It was big night for Port, given they were the home team and the Power had struck a deal with Collingwood to wear their historic black and white 'prison bar' guernseys.

"We're really disappointed that in a home Showdown, and prison bar jumper, that everyone was up for and built up for, we've delivered poorly at the end of the day," Hinkley said.

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