Port put finals loss behind them forward of Swans rematch | USAEMALL.com

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is adamant the heartbreak from the club’s preliminary final loss to Sydney no longer lingers ahead of their rematch.

The Power will return to the SCG on Sunday for the first time since their 36-point finals defeat to the Swans last year.

It was the fourth time Port under Hinkley had suffered a preliminary final loss after defeats in 2014, 2020 and 2021, leaving Hinkley as the VFL/AFL coach with most games coached without reaching a grand final.

But Hinkley, in his 13th and final season as Port coach, insisted his side have firmly moved on.

Port Adelaide are riding high on momentum after handing early premiership favourites Hawthorn their first defeat of the season.

Meanwhile, the Swans, now under first-year coach Dean Cox, are licking their wounds after a 31-point loss to Collingwood.

The two sides have traded results in recent history, with Hinkley pointing out his side handed Sydney a 112-point demolition job in round 21 last year.

Both clubs have a 2-3 record to start the season, with the Swans one spot above 13th-placed Port on percentage.

“The last time you played doesn’t really matter,” Hinkley said.

“Does anything linger from the time before that (in round 21)? When we beat them easily, too – I think every week’s so different.

“Sydney are quite a different side with what they’ve got available this week, and we are quite a different side to what we’ve had last time.”

Sydney have made three changes for Sunday’s match, with Lewis Melican, Justin McInerney and Aaron Francis returning to the squad.

Angus Sheldrick and Peter Ladhams made way, while Joel Amartey (hamstring) was forced out.

Port have only made one change, omitting Joe Berry for Darcy Byrne-Jones, who is returning from a one-match suspension.

Replicating their domination over the Hawks will be the aim against Sydney.

Port kicked six goals to Hawthorn’s two to build a game-high 71-point lead in the second term, before holding their nerve against a late challenge to win by 30 points.

“It’s probably a bit of a stretch to say you can do that every week, every game, every second and every minute of every game,” Hinkley said.

“We were dynamic for two and a half quarters, probably a little bit longer than that. But to Hawthorn’s credit, they were able to find a way to get back into the game.

“And it’s bloody hard at this level to bring that level of consistency to your performance, but we set out every week to do that.

“It’s just a hard comp. We’re going to Sydney to play Sydney, and that’s pretty tough, but the reality is we’ll get some confidence out (of beating Hawthorn).”