Huge fine doesn’t distract Ken Hinkley, Port Adelaide duo Charlie Dixon and Ryan Burton ready for comeback
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Huge fine doesn’t distract Ken Hinkley, Port Adelaide duo Charlie Dixon and Ryan Burton ready for comeback

Ken Hinkley says $20k fine does not distract from two key Power players set to return for finals clash against Sydney

Ken Hinkley exchanges words with Hawthorn players after the second semi-final between Port Adelaide and Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval on September 13, 2024. Photo: AFL Photos

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley insists he has not been distracted by the controversial $20,000 fine, highlighting two key changes to the preliminary squad for the Sydney clash.

Hinkley was fined for conduct inappropriate for taunting Hawthorn players following Port’s three-point semi-final win.

Asked if the fallout from the incident and fine were intended to serve as a distraction ahead of Friday’s SCG preliminary final against the Swans, Hinkley replied: “No.”

“Everything that happened was sorted out on Sunday night,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“We’ve moved on. We’ve got a play-off final to play and I don’t have anything to add because I’m not going to let any of that become a problem for us.

“We’ll just get on with preparing for Sydney.”

Key forward Charlie Dixon and striker Ryan Burton, who will undergo fitness tests on Thursday, will play in the preliminary final.

Dixon withdrew late from the semi-final, while Burton was ruled out the day before the match due to calf pain.

“He (Dixon) was supposed to play in the semi-final last week but he was unwell so we are optimistic he will be able to play,” Hinkley said.

Charlie Dixon kicks a ball during training at Port Adelaide on September 12, 2024. Photo: Getty Images/AFL Photos

“We are optimistic that Burton will also be able to play.

“Ryan’s form in the last three weeks, if he wasn’t one of our top two or three players, he was one of our top four – if he’s fit, he’ll play.

“But we don’t announce the squad until tomorrow night… so there’s still a lot of things to check off.”

The Power, who will be without Todd Marshall who suffered his fifth concussion in three years against Hawthorn, go into the clash with an incredible record in recent games against the Swans.

Port have beaten Sydney in their last eight meetings, including three at the SCG.

“It’s one of the things that happens in football over a period of time, these runs… all these things happen at different stages,” Hinkley said.

Jason Horne-Francis is tackled by Errol Gulden during the Port Adelaide vs Sydney match in R21, 2024. Photo: AFL Photos

“Both teams understand that this has absolutely nothing to do with what happens on Friday night.”

In their last meeting on August 3, the Power crushed the Swans by 112 points at Adelaide Oval.

“We went into two of those games in reverse,” Hinkley said, referring to Port’s 79-point defeat to Brisbane on June 22 and 84-point defeat to Geelong in the qualifying final.

“And we know that sometimes it just gets out of control, but that doesn’t stop you from showing up at the next show knowing that… you have to be ready.”