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Even though they’re the current darlings of the AFL scene, are we making a big enough deal about Port Adelaide?
While right now they are indeed a Power to be reckoned with, it’s less than 40 matches since they plumbed Melbourne Football Club depths of ineptitude and irrelevance.
This was when they got thumped by Greater Western Sydney in the new club’s debut year, when the Giants were barely managing eight or nine goals a game.
Over the weekend, the Power were able to absorb the stern test of pressure that Fremantle provided, before unleashing with a patented final-quarter burst. Port’s ability to step it up and ‘Let it Go’ would do any fan of the song from Disney’s Frozen proud.
Two weeks back, it was Geelong that couldn’t stand the heat in the Power kitchen, or should that be the furnace that Adelaide Oval is becoming. A renaming to become Port Adelaide Oval would be fitting. Right now, the Crows aren’t fit to wash Port’s laundry in those rooms.
As for travel, Port have already won in three states outside South Australia. Their only loss was by a mere seven points, to a North Melbourne side that was in form at the time, when Port somehow gave up a significant third-quarter lead. Don’t expect that to happen again too soon.
When Port were at their lowest ebb under Matthew Primus, the majority of football fans would have answered in the affirmative if asked whether they thought the Power should fold, and no longer be part of the AFL. Neutral fans who love their footy had taken to booking dentist appointments during Port games so there was no way they could stumble across one with an accidental flick of the remote.
When it comes to identifying the key person in this rags-to-riches story, the candidates are president David Koch, coach Ken Hinkley, high performance manager and fitness and conditioning guru Darren Burgess and captain Travis Boak.
Among the many things Koch brought with him, a high profile, boundless enthusiasm and business savvy were no doubt the keys.
Hinkley brings a refreshing simplicity to the game that many of his coaching brethren would do well to embrace. Are Port playing attractive football because they’re winning, or are they winning because they’re playing attractive football? The latter I think.
Burgess has obviously been able to maximise the fitness potential of his playing group, which led Ken Hinkley to provide the defining football quote of the season so far, in his press conference after their Round 1 demolition of Carlton.
“If you come and play Port Adelaide, you’re going to run, and you’re going to have to run really hard for four quarters,” he said.
“Teams know they’re going to play against hard-running Port Adelaide. We’re going to make it a tough day.”
Travis Boak has led the playing list, inspiring everyone from youngsters like Chad Wingard and Ollie Wines to old hands like Jay Schulz and Kane Cornes.
Yet all of Koch, Hinkley, Burgess and Boak would admit, there has been no one person responsible for such an amazing turnaround in the club’s fortunes. Nor would any of them take the credit. This is the essence of team culture.
There’s barely been a player who has run out in a Port jumper over the last 15 months who hasn’t been in career-best form, with many seeming to reach new peaks on a weekly basis.
Port’s season thus far can be summed up by two players – Matt White and Kane Mitchell.
In eight years at Richmond, White was never able to kick more than 11 goals in a season, yet he already has 13 from eight games in 2014, and is also averaging career-high disposals.
Players are going to get better in the Port environment.
Kane Mitchell started as a substitute eight times in 2013, and was only able to crack it for his first game against Fremantle. Talk about stepping up – twenty disposals, five marks, eight tackles and finishing off his work with two goals to boot.
When a player can come from outside the best 22 to have this sort of impact against opposition like Fremantle it shows the depth is there, matched by desire. The hunger of every player will stay high – firstly so they can keep winning, but secondly because they know their spot will be taken by someone waiting in the wings.
Port Adelaide play with the three key elements we all want from our football team, and they are the definition of simplicity itself – they run hard both ways, they are tough and they are skilful.
Port have brought the joy back to football with their exhilarating playing style, especially when in front of their home fans, who have been a force of nature themselves.
Long may it continue, and deep may the Power go into September.