On Friday, Ken Hinkley and Matthew Nicks have been collectively once more, smiling, laughing and with their arms round one another.
However the duo, who labored collectively when Nicks was a Energy assistant from 2012-18, have been nonetheless not mincing their phrases in regards to the feeling between the 2 SA golf equipment.
“There’s real hatred,” Hinkley stated.
“I’m not frightened to make use of the phrase ‘hatred’ as a result of it’s a sporting rivalry.
“It’s not a private factor in any manner.
“I believe everybody on this state loves the truth that each groups wish to get one another and wish to get them good.”
Hinkley’s Crows counterpart stated there was little doubt the hatred was mutual.
“We watch Port play on the weekends and we would like them to lose,” Nicks stated.
“We don’t like them.”
Saturday evening’s Showdown is the primary since Tom Jonas and Ollie Wines’s “entitled and conceited” barbs in regards to the Crows’ “DNA” eight months in the past.
That week, the coaches carried out separate pre-match press conferences.
The Energy made the last-minute name to return the favour to Adelaide for going solo in spherical 3 and maintain it ready — then prevailed by 56 factors within the golf equipment’ closing sport of the season.
“There have been some issues final yr that have been totally different so we’ve achieved what we must always do,” Hinkley stated on Friday, when requested why he was again alongside Nicks.
“We’ll stand right here collectively and we’ll cleared the path, and present it’s a terrific sport.”
Nicks stated final week he would attempt to provide you with one other Showdown line for the media.
He had trolled his former employer forward of the August match, calling it “Port Energy”, however opted to not weigh in once more on Friday.
Simply because the historical past and animosity between the golf equipment helps make the rivalry so enthralling, so too does the slender win-loss ledger.
Port Adelaide leads 27-25 and has gained 5 of the previous six.
Two of these outcomes — its August 2021 win and final April’s Jordan Dawson-inspired loss — have been by 4 factors.
“The Showdowns are the spotlight, in my opinion, of a whole lot of AFL seasons,” Hinkley stated.
“We play these ridiculous video games, one final yr in spherical bloody 3 the place the ball (from Dawson’s post-siren kick) appears to be like prefer it’s shifting out, then it’s shifting in and I’ve seen a bounce (from an Angus Monfries shot in 2013) go my manner.
“Within the home-and-away season, that is as huge a sport as you get to play in.
“That is as huge a build-up of any sport within the competitors, bar none.”
As at all times, it is going to be a troublesome tablet to swallow for the loser on Saturday evening.
Much more so when it is going to imply a 0-3 begin for the Crows after a formidable pre-season or a 1-2 opening for Port Adelaide forward of a very tough journey to face Sydney on the SCG.
Adelaide is coming off a 32-point house loss to Richmond and the Energy is trying to reply from a 12-goal defeat to Collingwood on the MCG.
With loads at stake, Hinkley denied this week’s build-up had been too placid.
“I do know the strain that goes with the Showdown,” he stated.
“There’s sufficient pressure occurring in my world and our membership.
“I’d a lot relatively or not it’s a a lot smoother and quieter week, however the actuality is it’s not.
“It’s a Showdown and there’s quite a bit using on it.”
THE TEAMS
Adelaide Oval, Saturday 7pm (native time)
POWER
B: R.Bonner, T.Jonas, T.Clurey
HB: D.Byrne-Jones, A.Aliir, D.Houston
C: M.Bergman, W.Drew, X.Duursma
HF: J.Finlayson, T.Marshall, C.Rozee
F: Z.Butters, C.Dixon, S.Powell-Pepper
FOLL: S.Lycett, O.Wines, J.Horne-Francis
I/C: Ok.Farrell, T.Boak, J.Rioli, L.Jones
EMG: O.Fantasia, B.Teakle, J.Burgoyne, J.Mead
IN: R.Bonner, T.Clurey, J.Finlayson
OUT: O.Fantasia (omitted), M.Georgiades (omitted), J.Burgoyne (omitted), R.Burton (suspension)
CROWS
B: T.Doedee, N.Murray, M.Michalanney
HB: B.Smith, J.Dawson – C, M.Hinge
C: B.Keays, R.Laird, L.Sholl
HF: J.Rachele, L.Pedlar, J.Soligo
F: T.Walker, L.Gollant, I.Rankine
FOLL: R.O’Brien, R.Sloane, S.Berry
I/C: J.Butts, W.Milera, L.Murphy, R.Thilthorpe
EMG: W.Hamill, C.Jones, E.Himmelberg, N.McHenry
IN: L.Gollant, J.Butts, W.Milera
OUT: E.Himmelberg (omitted), H.Schoenberg (omitted), D.Fogarty (knee), P.Parnell (concussion)
‘Slack’ younger Crow’s brutal self-assessment
– Simeon Thomas-Wilson
Sam Berry is sincere on his footy, identical to the way in which he performs it.
After a breakout yr in 2022, the place few might shake his grasp with Berry the very best tackler within the league, the younger Adelaide midfielder got here into this season with a objective of lifting his disposals of 17.6 per sport.
And whereas he averaged an elite 9.5 tackles per sport final yr he has solely averaged six to this point in 2023, with a one deal with effort towards GWS in spherical 1.
“Personally I simply wasn’t on the degree as far of my stress and across the contest,” Berry stated of his effort towards the Giants.
And as for a way the 21-year-old plans to deal with this and get again to the elite hunter of the ball he was final yr, it’s in line with his angle on the sector.
“I believe coaching is de facto essential throughout the week as a result of we solely actually get one foremost session,” he stated.
“So I wish to go in with a few focuses to get achieved.
“If I had a nasty sport and was slack in a number of areas on the weekend it’s a nice alternative to attempt to bounce again and remind myself on how I must do it.”
Berry had a powerful pre-season, which fuelled hope he might make a major leap in his third yr and add extra possessions to his sturdy defensive sport.
It’s nonetheless a spotlight for the younger Crow, and he’s assured the fruits of his labour in pre-season will emerge.
“I really feel like I’ve put myself in a reasonably good place to begin the yr, now it’s about specializing in acting on the weekend,” he stated.
“I believe a whole lot of it’s about confidence, there are a whole lot of craft issues that I’ve been working via. Particularly with Nathan van Berlo our midfield coach.
“I’ve been doing quite a bit with him, particularly across the stoppage work.
“After I get my defence and my stress proper, profitable the ball comes off the again of that.
“It has taken me slightly bit to determine as soon as the ball leaves to get used, it’s one thing that I’m nonetheless making an attempt to work on.
“I’m actually trying to attempt to do this this yr.”
One factor Berry isn’t trying to attempt to do extra of this yr is appearing.
Final month he — together with teammate Jake Soligo — starred in an Instagram video across the premise of him organising his personal self-defence and tackling enterprise, after his league-leading efforts final yr.
“I can’t even watch the video to be sincere,” Berry stated.
“I wrestle, I cringe at myself.
“Performing just isn’t a powerful level, it isn’t me however to be sincere it in all probability turned out higher than I believed it might.
“I used to be a bit like no I don’t know the place that is going however they did effectively, Josh and the boys who the video did effectively.
“I positively didn’t anticipate to be doing that once I wakened that morning.”
Reasonably Berry is much more eager to maintain having fun with Adelaide in his spare time.
From Maffra, 220km east of Melbourne, Adelaide is a spot that has grabbed a maintain of Berry.
“I really like Adelaide, I believe it’s nice,” he stated.
“Particularly after being there some time and attending to know folks outdoors the membership.
“It’s only a good spot to reside, I really like the seashore and people kinds of areas.
“It’s simply a straightforward place to reside, I actually take pleasure in it.
“Melbourne and Sydney they’re simply so busy the place Adelaide is unquestionably toned down quite a bit.
“It’s a lot simpler, issues aren’t as hectic and if you wish to do one thing you possibly can simply drive 10 or quarter-hour.
“It’s simply so handy.”
Initially revealed as Showdown 53 Port Adelaide v Adelaide 2023: All the most recent information for the large spherical 3 match
