Port win an AFL miracle, says Hinkley
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley believes the footy Gods helped deliver an AFL miracle: a last gasp four-point victory against bitter enemy Adelaide on Sunday.
Port trailed by 20 points with five minutes remaining but kicked four goals – including two in the final 90 seconds – to steal a stirring 17.5 (107) to 15.13 (103) victory.
Not only did eighth-placed Port move two wins clear of ninth-placed Carlton, they also delivered a death knock to arch rival Adelaide’s finals aspirations.
Crows coach Brenton Sanderson conceded his side won’t make the play-offs after losing the seemingly unloseable at AAMI Stadium.
“We are 20 points up with five minutes to go: we shouldn’t lose that game,” Sanderson said.
“The players are absolutely shattered and I know our fans are too because it’s Port Adelaide – Port win and almost ensure themselves a finals berth, and we lose and we’re out, it seems.”
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The closest match ever between the South Australian rivals featured a brilliant five-goal haul by Chad Wingard and literally turned on a slice of luck which Hinkley believes was the work of a footy God.
Trailing by eight points with 90 seconds remaining, Port’s Angus Monfries sprayed a left-footer which was headed for a point. But the ball took a remarkable right-hand turn and dribbled through for a goal.
Sanderson reckoned his Crows would have won if the ball stayed true to its course. His Port counterpart Hinkley put his own spin on it.
“If the Australians (Test cricketers) can bowl like that then we’re a chance … if Nathan Lyon can get the ball to move that much, then I reckon the Poms will be in a bit of strife,” Hinkley said.
“Anyone who watched the kick, we would look at it and say ‘fate – a little bit of footy Gods just bounced our way’.”
Port won the next centre clearance and Wingard marked some 35 metres from goal with 30 seconds to go.
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“I wasn’t actually nervous,” the 19-year-old Wingard said.
“I was just trying to block out every noise and go through my routine and just execute. You have just got to live in the moment.”
Wingard coolly slotted the match-winner to give Port their 11th win and virtually assure a finals berth – but first-year coach Hinkley was having no such talk.
“I looked at the draw and it’s Geelong in Geelong next week, so I dealt with it really quickly,” he said of any fleeting finals feeling.
“Do you want the boring line? You get what you deserve and that is what we will get – there is still four games to go, there is still a long way to go.”
September will surely hold at least one special moment for Wingard; his best-afield display assures the smooth-moving left-footer of All Australian selection.
“He has had an amazing year and today was probably the icing on the cake for him,” Hinkley said.
“He’s a special player obviously at such a young age.”
AAMI Stadium’s final Showdown pulled a crowd of 43,368 spectators in ordinary weather.
They got their money’s worth.
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