Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says the pressure has not eased on him despite his side’s gutsy two-point win over St Kilda in round 16.
It comes after Hinkley choked back tears after that win on Sunday, after a difficult week under the microscope.
The coach has been under fire after his side’s 79-point drubbing at the hands of Brisbane in round 15.
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Hinkley was booed when he was flashed up on the big screen at Adelaide Oval in that loss to Brisbane, then again when he briefly appeared on the ground as he walked through to the changerooms at the end of the match.
On top of that, during last week, signs were placed outside the Power’s training hub that read “sack Hinkley”.
Hinkley became emotional after their win over the Saints, choking back tears post match.
“Pretty hard. It’s been a tough week. Great boys, great boys,” Hinkley said.
“I really like the fact that we were under the pump and we just stuck at it. It wasn’t easy, but we got there.”
But even nearly a week on, the pressure hasn’t simmered down.
When asked whether Hinkley has felt some relief since that win, he laughed at the prospect.
“You’re kidding, aren’t you?,” Hinkley said on Wednesday.
“Have a look at the competition and how close it is. It’s so tight.”
Hinkley declared that he has put the past few weeks behind him, as he hones his focus on their must-win clash against the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
The Power are just two points off third on the ladder, but sit in seventh, with percentage also a crucial part of each game for the rest of the season.
“Every game is going to mean so much,” Hinkley said.
“You’re going to look at that ladder every week and it’s going to go everywhere, every week.”
Not only will Hinkley feel the pressure against the Dogs in round 17, but he’ll need to face the loud and frustrated Port Adelaide crowd, who booed him just week’s early.
“The reality is there’s pressure in this game from now, right to the very end,” he said.
“Everyone who’s trying to compete in it would be feeling it.”