It’s a long shot but Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hasn’t given up on the Power possibly making the AFL finals.
Port’s 94-point thumping of hapless Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday has lifted the Power above St Kilda to ninth on the ladder.
With four games to play eighth-placed North Melbourne hold all the aces with a 12-point margin, meaning one more win will almost certainly secure their finals spot.
But Hinkley is taking a where there’s life, there’s hope approach heading into next week’s clash with Sydney at the SCG.
“It’s still alive isn’t it?,” he said.
“It keeps us thinking, and dreaming, a little. We control what we control and that’s next week.”
The Power will be sweating on the fitness of Hamish Hartlett for the Swans clash after he injured a calf in the warm-up on Saturday.
Hinkley is hopeful the big win over the Lions will lift his team’s confidence before taking on the fourth-placed Swans.
“We’ve gone up there and played well a few times so I look forward to that opportunity,” he said.
“We’ve enjoyed the physical contest and we know Sydney will give us an opportunity to practice that against the absolute best.”