Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has admitted he made a grave mistake playing injured captain Connor Rozee in their 30-point loss to rivals Adelaide in Showdown 55.
Rozee’s hamstring, which he injured a week prior against St Kilda, caused him grief and saw him put on ice at three-quarter time.
He was subbed out and replaced by Jackson Mead in the final term.
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Hinkley took full blame for selecting Rozee, admitting that the 23-year-old midfielder was nowhere near ready to face the Crows, despite passing his medical tests in the lead up to the match.
“Yeah I made a mistake playing Connor Rozee tonight. That was clear, it was obvious,” Hinkley said post match.
“All the testing we’d done, all the medical support we could get, all the information… I’d seen it with my own eyes, Connor was able to run and kick as long as he needed to.
“Once fatigue set in tonight, it was clear (he wasn’t ready to play).”
Rozee came off for an extended break during the third term, which saw him test his hamstring out on the exercise bike.
The skipper briefly re-entered the field of play, but was removed from the match at the final break.
Hinkley says he will own the blunder, which will likely see Rozee miss their must-win clash against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium next Friday night.
“Yep, my call,” he said.
“I can try hide behind it, but I’m not a coward when it comes to owning a mistake.”
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The Power coach then delved into the extent of the injury.
“It’s no worse, but it’s the same issue, which suggests to me if he had the week off, he’d be better for next week,” Hinkley said.
The Power are now 5-3 after eight rounds.
