Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley says dumping Paddy Ryder has no bearing on the ruckman’s long-term future at the AFL club.

All Australian Ryder, who is off-contract at the end of the season, has been axed for Saturday night’s clash against ladder leaders Geelong at Adelaide Oval

But Hinkley is adamant the 31-year-old won’t exit Port at season’s end.

“It’s not even a question that I want to entertain but I expect Paddy to be at our club next season, absolutely,” Hinkley told reporters on Friday.

“Paddy is a part of our furniture. Paddy is much loved by everyone at our football club … just because he gets a bit older, everyone starts to jump to conclusions.

“This bloke is just a little bit out of form. He is not getting thrown out of our footy club.”

Hinkley scorched Port’s four-time club champion and current media commentator Kane Cornes, who said the club had refused to entertain Ryder’s wish for a fresh two-year contract.

“Let’s be really clear: Kane doesn’t know,” Hinkley said.

“He doesn’t work within inside the club. That information is so inaccurate it doesn’t matter.”

Besides Ryder, last year’s club champion Justin Westhoff was also dumped for the clash against the Cats – ending his streak of 135 consecutive AFL games.

Hinkley said axing the stalwarts was his toughest selection decision in seven years at Port.

“You don’t take decisions that we made this week very lightly,” he said.

“Those two people have been so important to us as a football club and in particular to me as a coach.

“They are such important people and you care about them, I think people forget that, you genuinely care about them.

“And to make decisions like that, I know how much it affects them and their families and us as a football club.

“But in the end you have to pick the best players who give you the best chance of winning.”

Hinkley also dropped onballer Sam Powell-Pepper and defender Jarrod Lienert.

Key forward Charlie Dixon will make his AFL comeback after breaking a leg more than 10 months ago and co-captain Ollie Wines (fractured ankle) and Brad Ebert (concussion) return for their first games at the elite level since round seven.

The Cats, who top the table with just one loss this season, summoned Darcy Fort to replace Esava Ratugolea (hamstring).