Port coach Ken Hinkley apologises to supporters for Connor Rozee bungle

Coach Ken Hinkley has apologised to Port Adelaide supporters for bungling a decision on captain Connor Rozee’s fitness.

Rozee is set for a stint on the sidelines after the Power lost their gamble on his hamstring injury.

The skipper was unable to finish last Friday night’s 10-point win against St Kilda because of a hamstring concern.

While scans showed some damage, Rozee was declared fit to face the Crows on Thursday night - only to again be substituted at three quarter-time of Adelaide’s 12.6 (78) to 5.18 (48) win.

“I apologise to our supporters for the decision that was made,” Hinkley said.

“The decision was made collectively but I am in charge.

“And I set Connor up to fail as a player by the way he had to perform out there.

“After halftime he couldn’t get to top speed and he was reluctant to kick.

“I made a mistake playing Connor Rozee ... that was clear, it was obvious.

“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.”

Rozee will miss Port’s trip to Geelong to meet the unbeaten Cats next Friday night.

“It’s no worse but it’s the same issue,” Hinkley said of Rozee’s injury

“Which would suggest to me that if he had the week off, he would be better the next week so.

“He thought he was absolutely right to play ... he was flat-out two days in a row, no problems at all.

“I watched him kick the ball from 60 metres, have shots at goal, I’ve seen all the things you needed to see.

“I should have known that or should have known that that was perhaps going to happen.”

Key forwards Todd Marshall (ankle) and Mitch Georgiades (knee) also were hurt in the defeat to the Crows.

The loss came amid a horror stretch of goalkicking with Port’s 5.18 troubling coach Hinkley.

“We just could not convert,” he said.

“They reality is for us, that has been consistent, we have been falling down too often in conversion.

“The facts are, we’re not scoring at the level that we need to.”