PRIZED recruit Charlie Dixon's five-goal haul will grab the headlines but the star big man deserves more credit for the fierce contest and effort he delivers each week for Port Adelaide, coach Ken Hinkley says.
Dixon was instrumental in the Power's convincing 45-point win in Alice Springs, booting four goals in the opening half and helping set the tone with his aggressive attack on the contest.
Dixon was well-held by Tom McDonald after half-time, but the 202cm big man had the better of the critical duel as the Power leveled their win-loss ledger at 5-5.
Speaking post-match, Hinkley praised Dixon for his tireless work ethic and "team care" since his arrival from Gold Coast in the off-season.
"I think Charlie's been very good. Our form being inconsistent has probably hidden away some of Charlie's work, I reckon," Hinkley said.
"We couldn't be more pleased with Charlie Dixon and what he's brought to our football club.
"The maturity of the person, the way he's grown as a man as well as a player.
"He's starting to enjoy what living in a state of football is in Port Adelaide and today he's delivered some goals, but what he delivers every week is a fair dinkum contest and that's what we love.
TALKING POINTS: Melbourne v Port Adelaide
Saturday's haul was Dixon's second bag of five majors this season and the 25-year-old has now booted 26 goals in 10 games.
He and best-on-ground Chad Wingard (26 disposals, 2 goals) were well serviced by an impressive midfield in Alice Springs, with the Power's onballers controlling the contest despite Max Gawn dominating the ruck for Melbourne with 48 hit-outs.
Makeshift Port ruckman Jackson Trengove (10) and Dougal Howard (three) battled hard, though, giving their experienced engine room the chance to compete and edge the clearance battle.
"I think it's been undersold a little bit (how good Port's midfield has been), Michael (Voss), Buddha (Garry Hocking) and the boys over the last four or five weeks, to be fair." Hinkley said.
"We've come up against some big rucks and some dominant rucks, that just shows your grunt and you're prepared to stay down and dirty.
"That's what we have to be at the moment and that's what we have to continue to be.
"We haven't got an enormous amount of top-end talent, I don't think, on display most weeks.
"We're just pretty solid and if we bring that same sort of level of intensity and effort we'll become a bit more consistent. That's still our issue, we're only 5-5."
Hinkley cheekily suggested NAB AFL Rising Star judges couldn't continue to overlook hard-nosed youngster Darcy Byrne-Jones for a nomination after his 23 disposals and one goal against the Dees.
"That award's not on anymore is it? Is that award still out there?" Hinkley joked.
"He's played eight of the best first games you'll ever see and he still hasn't got the nod, it's quite strange.
"I suppose he's a late pick (52 in 2013), maybe that's why. But he deserves to be acknowledged that he's had eight great games.
"Now I hope that doesn't put the mozz on him, but he's been pretty good for us."
The Power's triumph over Melbourne extended their winning run in Alice Springs to three-straight games over the Demons, with Hinkley's men relishing the wide-open spaces of Traeger Park.
"I wish we could play here next week," he said.
