Ken Hinkley has shown the toll of the last few days, choking up immediately after Port Adelaide's crucial two-point AFL win over St Kilda.
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The Power's scrappy 8.14 (62) to 8.12 (60) win over the Saints on Sunday at Marvel Stadium relieved some of the pressure on the embattled Port coach.
It snapped their three-game losing streak and came a week after Power fans had booed Hinkley, following their 79-point belting from the Brisbane Lions at home.
Asked how he felt moments after the final siren, Hinkley's emotions were raw.
"Pretty hard ... been a tough week. Great boys - I really like the fact that we were under the pump and we just stuck at it," he told Fox Sports.
"It wasn't easy, but we got there in the end. Sometimes ... we're two points from fourth, it felt like we were on the bottom of the ladder and I get why.
"I really appreciate the fact that we've been playing poorly, but we're doing our best to keep it right."
Hinkley was then asked about the pressure he has been under.
"It's part of the job, unfortunately. You don't want it, but I want the job, so I have to put up with that."
He also felt "no doubt" the Port players had his back, adding: "the reality was, as a team, they stuck together."
Later, in his post-game media conference, Hinkley's emotions had calmed but the importance of the win remained huge.
"Relief ... it was a big win," he said.
"Sometimes it's hard to control when you get put in those instant moments and for me, I'm an emotional person, I'm an emotional coach."
Scores were level at halftime in an entertaining duel where Port were controlling the stoppages and St Kilda were on top in turnovers.
As the two teams sought an advantage, the third term descended into a turnover-fest as the pressure took hold.
Port broke the deadlock with two goals late in the term and while St Kilda hit back with two early in the last, they could not regain the lead.
St Kilda's Jack Higgins fluffed a very gettable set shot late in the last and then Power forward Mitch Georgiades nailed Jack Steele with a tackle at the other end with less than a minute left to ensure the win.
But while the win kept Port in the top eight, Hinkley is under no illusions about the task at hand, with the Western Bulldogs to come next Saturday at Adelaide Oval.
"We grind out the win, there's no doubt about that - we weren't super. But important people realised the moment pretty well for us," he said.
High among those important people were best-afield midfielder Jason Horne-Francis, whose work-rate was outstanding, and key defenders Aliir and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, who capped their strong games by repeatedly saving Port in the last quarter.
By contrast, the Saints are now in the bottom four and coach Ross Lyon spoke of their frustration after the close loss, while noting they lacked nothing for effort.
He said stoppage work remains their achilles heel.
"Their midfield is a like a hydra, isn't it - you cut off (Zak) Butters' head and (Connor) Rozee goes mad early," he said.
"Then you break even, you get a bit of ball yourself, and then Horne-Francis explodes in the third."
Rowan Marshall kicked three goals for the Saints and Jack Sinclair racked up 31 disposals, although he blotted his impressive game with a kickout that gifted Port a crucial goal in the third term.
Australian Associated Press
