Power need rest, but want redemption

PORT Adelaide defender Toby Thurstans says the players will go into this weekend’s break with mixed emotions.

The Power, who added forward Daniel Motlop to their mounting injury list on Saturday night, are in desperate need of some rest and recuperation.

But Thurstans said the split-round also came at a disappointing time as his side would be forced to wait an extra week before getting a chance to avenge the 93-point thrashing at the hands of the Western Bulldogs.

“This week has come at a good time in terms of getting the body right and refreshing mentally, but it’s probably come at a wrong time as well," Thurstans said on Monday.

"You just want to get back out there, prove to yourself [that what you’re doing is] right and do it for the fans and people that come and watch.

“We continually want to improve and having a week off straight after a belting like that gives you another two weeks to really stew over it.”

Motlop copped a kick to the same ankle he injured last month and will have scans over the next few days to determine the extent of the damage.

The Power’s casualty ward also includes Chad Cornes (knee), Travis Boak (knee), Hamish Hartlett (hamstring), Matt Thomas (knee) and Shaun Burgoyne, who is still being troubled by the effects of bone bruising sustained in round three.

Thurstans admitted injuries to key players had put his team on the back foot, but said it was no excuse for Saturday’s night’s below-par performance in Darwin.

“Shaun Burgoyne, Chad Cornes and even Travis Boak when he’s up and running are probably irreplaceable at the moment with our young list,” Thurstans said.

“It [the injuries] is not helping and we’d like to have our best 18 out there every week, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be competitive in a game and, on the weekend, we weren’t competitive enough.”

Port Adelaide was accused of displaying a lack of spirit at TIO Stadium and Thurstans denied the uncertainty of coach Mark Williams’ contract was having an unsettling effect on the players.

“I really don’t know why our heart is being questioned. What’s going on around the club has no effect on the players crossing the line and having the right mentality,” he said.

“I clearly don’t think that the boys gave up. It just doesn’t happen in football these days. It’s something that you don’t want to hear, but we’ll just have to prove them [the critics] wrong.”

The Power are expected to have several long sessions on the track this week before breaking for the bye on Friday.

The players will return to Alberton early next week to prepare for the unenviable task of taking on the undefeated Cats at Skilled Stadium on June 28.