Pint-sized Crow looms large for Port

Adelaide's brilliant goalsneak Eddie Betts is looming large in Port coach Ken Hinkley's thinking ahead of Saturday night's top-two clash in the AFL.

Eddie Betts of the Crows

Adelaide's goalsneak Eddie Betts is looming large in Port coach Ken Hinkley's thinking. (AAP)

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hasn't had any volunteers to stand Adelaide dangerman Eddie Betts in their top of the ladder showdown on Saturday.

"They're not really queuing up for that job. I don't blame them," Hinkley told reporters on Friday.

The 172cm-tall Betts will be the smallest player on Adelaide Oval when the arch rivals meet but he looms largest in Hinkley's pre-game plotting.

The brilliant Crows forward has revelled in Showdowns since crossing from Carlton - in six games against Port, he's kicked 24 goals, only once being held to three or less majors.

Betts and his Adelaide attacking colleagues formed the highest-scoring side last season and have shown no signs of slowing down in two wins this season - the Crows recorded 147 points in round one and 113 last start.

"We have spent a lot of time thinking about Eddie ... and Tex (Taylor Walker) and all the boys up there," Hinkley said.

"They are a great forward line group. We know what we're up against. We know how challenging it will be."

Yet Hinkley resisted any temptation to summon experienced defenders Jasper Pittard and Nathan Krakouer for their first AFL games of the fresh season.

Instead, Hinkley recalled half-back Hamish Hartlett from illness to replace injured defender Jack Hombsch (knee).

"We have got great faith in the young blokes that have been out there playing at the moment," Hinkley said.

"And we get to bring Hamish back in, a really important and experienced player.

"We are happy with the way that (defensive) group have been performing so we feel less disruption is best."


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Source: AAP


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