Port Adelaide's Ken Hinkley Shows Support for Carlton's Michael Voss Ahead of Crucial AFL Match

Beleaguered Carlton coach Michael Voss has some sympathy from his Port Adelaide counterpart Ken Hinkley. Voss and his Blues are enduring a week under a harsh spotlight ahead of Thursday night's Adelaide Oval fixture against the Power. Carlton's last-start loss to North Melbourne has put the proverbial blowtorch on Voss, who was an assistant coach to Hinkley at the Power from 2015 to 2021.

Asked if he had sympathy for Voss, Hinkley replied: 'Yeah, I have.' 'Michael knows what the industry is like,' Hinkley told reporters. 'I wouldn't be telling Michael anything more than he knows. And we both know, and everyone who is in this game knows, that you have your time when you have just got to stand up and you have just got to do your job. And it's hard not to get distracted but you can't let that happen. And Michael is a high-quality person who will lead his club well.'

The 10th-placed Blues and 12th-paced Port both sit two wins outside the top eight, with Thursday night's clash looming as an elimination final in June. 'There's so many clubs who are in the bracket that we're both in,' Hinkley said. 'We haven't had the most consistent season .. and we continue to fight with the challenges. We are no different to Carlton and I'm sure they're trying to focus themselves on getting on a run, like we're trying to do. It's a damn tough competition. You don't get to do it perfectly all the time.'

Port's key defender Aliir Aliir will return from a one-game absence because of a knee injury. Hinkley also confirmed veteran Travis Boak would be summoned but Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines (knee) would miss another game.

According to the source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation.