New dad Brad Ebert only flew into Shanghai on Friday and Robbie Gray, as usual, looked proppy.
Gold Coast should be grateful their preparations were not more routine
Ebert was best afield and Gray kicked two goals in Port Adelaide's 72-point AFL belting of the Suns.
Coach Ken Hinkley joked last week had been easy for Ebert - the week before, when son Leo arrived, was the hard part.
But the Power had complete faith that if Ebert said he would be ready to play on Sunday, he would deliver.
"He's a pro - Brad's as good a preparer as we have at our football club," Hinkley said.
"On the ground, off the ground he does everything perfect."
Hinkley added they had discussed the Shanghai trip weeks ago and how the birth would affect preparations.
"Not a problem - if Brad wants to do that, I trust Brad Ebert to do that," he said.
"I know as a professional athlete, he does it better than anyone."
Ebert said Cathay Pacific looked after him well on the flight over - Hinkley muttered he was stuck in the back of the plane - and he never found the late travel a problem.
His starring midfield performance was the latest success in what is probably career-best form.
"It is a good mix - it's been a big week or two, but I've been loving it - it's been fantastic," Ebert said of fatherhood and footy.
"Once I got here, I felt like it was pretty much business as usual."
There was been speculation about Gray's fitness for weeks and Hinkley has had enough of talking about him.
"He's fine - it's quite amazing, it just keeps coming," Hinkley said of the question.
The Port coach noted Gray had Suns co-captain Steven May as his opponent.
"That's the quality that they put on him,"' he said.
"I'm probably sick of talking about Rob and I know he's sick of me talking about him."
The bye will undoubtedly be a blessing for Gray and Hinkley expects him to miss no games.
"He's okay, all things being equal, he travels home fine and plays next game," he said.
It was put to Hinkley that Gray always looks proppy..
"You haven't watched Robbie train very often, have you?," Hinkley said.
"He hobbles around at the best of times."
