‘I set Connor up to fail’: Hinkley’s brutal admission after star skipper’s injury

“He couldn’t get to top speed and he was reluctant to kick,” Hinkley said. “He thought he was absolutely right to play.

“He was flat out two days in a row, no problems at all, kicking the ball 60m and having shots at goal … I saw all the things you needed to see, (but) I should have had better history – I should have known that was going to happen.

“It (injury) is no worse (than after the Saints game) but (it’s) the same issue, which suggests to me that if he did have the week off he’d be better the next week.

“I apologise to our supporters for the decision that was made … The decision was made collectively but I’m in charge.”

Hinkley was more bullish around the prospects of forwards Todd Marshall and Mitch Georgiades, who both trudged off Adelaide Oval late in the match.

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Marshall hobbled off favouring his left ankle following a heavy landing, while Georgiades came off to have ice applied to his right knee.

Georgiades ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament playing in the SANFL just over a year ago and is five games into his comeback from knee reconstruction surgery, but Hinkley isn’t fearing the worst yet.

“One (Marshall) was a small rolled ankle. I think that will be fine,” he said. “Mitch’s knee looks like just a knock but it blew up quite quickly.