Gus gets on with it

PORT Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has moved to shield ex-Bomber Angus Monfries from the spotlight turned his way thanks to the explosive revelations of alleged doping at his former club.

Monfries, who was best on ground in Port Adelaide's hit-out against its SANFL counterpart on Friday, has remained tight-lipped about his final year at Essendon.

He is likely to be interviewed by the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority as part of the joint investigation into the Dons' possible use of banned supplements.

The Power said Monfries would co-operate fully with the investigation.

Hinkley tried to ease any pressure on the 26-year-old by insisting he shouldn’t feel forced to comment.

"The story itself needs to unfold properly before they go too much further with anyone making any comments," Hinkley said.

"Then you're probably in a better position to make any comment."

Port's new coach said Monfries' return home to Adelaide meant he had managed to escape the full glare of the spotlight in Melbourne. He lauded the forward's ability to concentrate on football and deliver in the face of significant distraction.

"For Angus it hasn't been such a big deal, I mean he's been away from Melbourne, I understand it's a big story and it is a very big story, but the fact is he's here with us now," Hinkley said.

"He knows he's done everything right and he's OK and he's just moving on and playing footy as he showed tonight."

Monfries kicked a goal and directly set up five others in the Power's trial match against the Port Adelaide Magpies on Friday night

He was well-supported by Jasper Pittard, Hamish Hartlett and five first-half goals from Jay Schulz, ensuring the Power easily brushed aside their SANFL counterparts, 23.13 (150) to 3.3 (21).

The 129-point demolition could hardly be described as a contest, but Hinkley was pleased to see strong performances by several of the Power's newest players.  

"We had Mason Shaw and Jakey Neade and Ollie Wines and some of the other boys like (Jack) Hombsch and (Lewis) Stevenson … even Kane Mitchell was another one," Hinkley said.

"I've been really pleased with our progress right throughout the summer, when you're in pre-season all you can ask for is for the effort to be right up and the intensity to be right up.

"I think again tonight the boys showed that the effort was there."

Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.