Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley couldn’t resist a chuckle.

Richmond counterpart Damien Hardwick has issued a warning to Port’s defenders ahead of Friday night’s AFL preliminary final.

Hardwick’s comments centred on any Power defender game enough to stand in the way of aggressive Tiger spearhead Tom Lynch.

“If someone wants to take his space, good luck,” Hardwick said on Wednesday.

When asked about the comment on Thursday, and Lynch’s desire to crash into Port players, Hinkley couldn’t suppress a laugh.

“That is what key forwards do,” he said.

“Dimma (Hardwick) is right.

“(Port captain) Tom Jonas will stand in the way of anything. Any of our defenders will stand in the way of anything, as the Richmond players will.

“We expect key forwards to play that way and Dimma does too.”

Hinkley pointed out he has an overtly-aggressive forward, Charlie Dixon, in his team.

“Charlie … is not dissimilar (to Lynch),” he said.

“He crashes packs. He hits things. He likes it, he enjoys it.”