Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett says the player group is backing coach Ken Hinkley despite the club's horror 0-3 start to the AFL season.
The pressure is ramping up on Hinkley after the Power followed up their 64-point loss to Hawthorn in round two with a four-point defeat to arch rivals Adelaide.
Port Adelaide were touted as a premiership fancy at the start of the season, but they are now in grave danger of missing the finals.
Hinkley is contracted until the end of 2023.
But Port Adelaide's 71-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in last year's preliminary final - combined with the 0-3 start to this season - means Hinkley is under huge pressure to turn things around quickly.
A loss to defending premiers Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night would leave Port Adelaide at 0-4, but Lycett said Hinkley has the support of the player group.
"Definitely players are all in. We've got his back," Lycett said.
"Everyone cops it at some stage of their career.
"Look at Todd Marshall last week. He was copping it left, right and centre, and then he came out and had a really good game (with five goals).
"It's just about how you take it and what you do with it.
"We've been hearing noise and we understand, but we'll be looking to turn it around this week."
Lycett says his team isn't mentally scarred by last year's preliminary final mauling, and is optimistic the Power can play finals this season.
"Definitely. I think we can make finals for sure," he said.
"We haven't started well, but it's not about how you start, it's about how you finish.
"I'd rather be performing at the end of the year than at the start. But we understand we need to get a wriggle on and start winning some games."
