‘Let Connor down’: Ken Hinkley’s brutal admission on skipper’s selection call after Showdown loss

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley concedes his punt on Connor Rozee backfired spectacularly after the captain was hurt again in a 30-point loss to arch rivals Adelaide.

Crow Izak Rankine kicked three goals and set up two others in his side’s 12.6 (78) to 5.18 (48) triumph on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval.

Rozee will be sent for more hamstring scans after failing to finish a game for the second week in a row.

“I made a mistake playing Connor Rozee tonight. That was clear, it was obvious,” Hinkley said.

“I can try and hide behind it but I am not a coward when it comes to owning a mistake, and that was what it was.

“I let Connor down by letting him play.”

Rozee was subbed out at three quarter-time, Mitch Georgiades copped a knock to a knee, and Lachie Jones appeared hobbled by a leg injury in a loss which leaves Port with a 5-3 win-loss record.

The Crows move to 3-5 and hold overall boasting rights over Port: in 55 games between the SA rivals, Adelaide now have a 28-27 edge.

Adelaide led the entire game as midfielder Jake Soligo continued his rich form, winning the Showdown medal for best-afield for his 27 disposals and 10 tackles.

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Fellow on-ballers Matt Crouch (28 touches), Jordan Dawson (24) and Rory Laird (26) were busy and Darcy Fogarty (two goals) was a standout in attack.

Veteran Taylor Walker also booted two goals while Mark Keane and Josh Worrell were superb in defence.

“That was a really good performance,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.

“It may have looked scrappy on the telly, it couldn’t have been more perfect from our point of view so a really pleasing all-round performance.”

Port vice-captain Zak Butters gathered a game-high 33 disposals and Miles Bergman (20 touches) and Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines (22) battled gamely.

Jason Horne-Francis (two goals) was damaging in spurts and Dan Houston (20 possessions) was accomplished at halfback.