Remarkably, only 10 of the AFL’s 18 coaches from 18 months ago are still in their respective top jobs.
A year and a half ago, senior coaches Michael Voss, Brett Ratten, James Hird, Kevin Sheedy, Mark Neeld, Scott Watters, John Worsfold were still at the helm.
Port Adelaide were in a period of vast transition, having parted ways with former club champion-turned senior coach Matthew Primus, to see out 2012 under caretaker-coach Garry Hocking.
Eighteen months on they have become the surprise packet of the last two seasons, and proof of how quickly the landscape changes with the right operating decisions.
Five wins, sixteen losses and one draw for a 14th place finish was the 2012 result for a side now lining up for a preliminary final against reigning premiers Hawthorn at a pulsating MCG this Saturday afternoon.
To place the awakening of the sleeping Power giant into further perspective, three wins, nineteen losses and narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon to the Gold Coast in their maiden season was their dismal story in 2011.
Port Adelaide home games at AAMI Stadium were become infamous for large, black tarps covering vast areas of seating in the absence of spectators.
If a club ever looked to be on life support, Port Adelaide was it.
At the time it beggared belief that a club which largely dominated the competition from 2001-2004, with two minor premierships and the ultimate prize in 2004, could find itself in such dire straits. Eighteen months later, it beggars belief that same club is in booming shape on and off the field.
In footy clubs success starts off the field, which is exactly what Port Adelaide sought to do at the conclusion of 2012.
The appointment of media personality and financial commentator David Koch to the chairman’s position was to be the first bold move in the Power’s resurgence.
Much like Eddie McGuire of Collingwood, Koch has often been the subject of criticism by the Australian public, but much like McGuire a decade earlier, the savvy operating businessman has been invaluable to Port’s return to off-field stability. Plus there’s the subtle publicity for Port Adelaide on Seven’s daily morning breakfast show, Sunrise.
The influence of Koch was complemented by the appointment of Ken Hinkley, appointed six days after the new chairman.
A club in such a deeply dug black hole nailed two of the league’s most envied appointments in less than a week in October 2012.
Hinkley, a tough, uncompromising player in his day, won the best and fairest in 1992 for the Cats. He served a lengthy AFL apprenticeship as an assistant to Mark Thompson, forming the brains trust behind the formidable Geelong premiership-winning outfit in 2007 and 2009.
Hinkley then served as an assistant to Guy McKenna at the Gold Coast Suns after being unsuccessful applying for senior coaching roles at Richmond, Geelong and St Kilda.
In his first year as senior coach of the Power in 2013, Hinkley was named the AFL Coaches Association’s coach of the year, as Port won 13 games including an elimination final, before a loss to Geelong in the semi-final.
It is astounding how a man of such profound influence on his players could find himself waiting as long as he did for a senior gig.
The development of Ollie Wines, Chad Wingard, Jake Neade, Matthew Lobbe to name a few, along with the class and experience of Travis Boak, Kane Cornes, Jay Schulz and Robbie Gray has Port Adelaide gelled with young enthusiasm and seasoned performers. There’s a unity among the playing group that may never have surfaced had Port not made a bold statement at the end of 2012.
Speaking of unity, eighteen months on, the large, black tarps at Port Adelaide games that once occupied seating bay after seating bay at AAMI Stadium have since been stowed away.
The fans at the new-look Adelaide Oval now stand as one pre-game, with scarves aloft as all and sundry belt out the INXS classic ‘Never Tear Us Apart’.
The four words in the song’s title could not sum up Port Adelaide’s situation 18 months on any better – a coach who would go to war for his players, players who would go to war for the coach, and a chairman whose love for the Power is as unwavering as the fans who stand as one.
With 16 wins for the year after knocking over one of September’s most fancied sides in Fremantle in emphatic fashion, the Power are ripe for this week’s challenge.
Proving a week is a long time in football after devouring a hapless Richmond side that failed to give a yelp the week prior, 18 months is indeed an eternity.
Port Adelaide now have a date with the Hawks in a preliminary final at the home of football on Saturday for a place in footy’s ‘big dance’.
Radelaide
Guest
Same thing also happened to Collingwood before Eddie came along, I don't buy into the "cattle on the park" argument I call it professionalism. Are you telling me that with all the first round picks Richmond, Melbourne and Carlton have they always seem to get it wrong? Geelong have never finished lower than 12th in the last 25 years and only missed the finals a few times in that period yet hardly get a sniff in the top 10, what, so they are always lucky? and the Roo's now, I wouldn;t have called them brimming with talent.
Simoc
Guest
You're way off the mark Radelaide. Hawthorn appointed Alistair Clarkson who has been an outstanding coach. As at Port Adelaide the players were there and Hinkly is the best current coach. Melbourne and Bulldaogs do not have the cattle. The President thing is a nonsense sideshow.
Radelaide
Guest
Hey Dan, you wrote the article 1 day to soon now with Sando gone from the Crows.
Kaks
Roar Guru
I wonder how Port will go in the coming years when they are expected to win the flag instead of being the under dog. The pressure can change things
Senator RY
Guest
Slightyly un-related; Hartlett reminds me of Sam Mitchell, only younger.
Balthazar
Guest
Robbie Gray's pretty annoying. Reacts like he's been shot if someone touches him. I think he's a graduate of the same bad acting class as Jack Darling
Bosk
Roar Rookie
It's tough to muster any serious loathing toward such an exciting young side Axle. Give it a couple of years though, once Chad Wingard's established himself as the most arrogant player in the competition (he's already well on the way) and Hamish Harlett has become widely recognized as one of the AFL's biggest snipers (he has plenty of form) I'll be inclined to see things differently but right now they're the flavor of the month so I may as well jump on the Port bandwagon with everyone else. Besides, this week will be my last chance to do so for months! :)
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
The heart and sole of Port is Hinkley at the moment. He has given them not only a pulse, but a gigantic heart. I love the way he addresses the players and gives access to the media like never before seen. I have a soft spot for the PA football club (the magpies that is), but this club seems to be the peoples favourite when your team is out. Just look at the comments thus far. I don't think I have seen a bigger turn around in any sport around the world in an 18 month period both on and off the ground than what has been achieved at the Power. Great stuff and I hope they knock the champs off this weekend.
JKost
Guest
I'm curious as to whether Freo/Ross Lyon received this same article last year, or was it just articles of how Ross will never win a premiership? Went from being 13th more than half way through the 2012 season to the grand final the season after.....
Axle an the guru
Guest
That would be the nicest comment ive seen from you Bosk. You better be careful the Swanetts and Fockers will think you are mellowing out.
Anthony
Guest
It seems most Melbourne commentators are in love with Port Adelaide. Even Angela Pippos on 3LO this a/noon was tipping them....& she's a Crows fan!
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Quite amazing the way Port have gone from being a fairly pedestrian outfit to the fittest and fastest in the league in such a short space of time. The physical development of their young players like Wines is also extremely interesting.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I have a lot of respect for what Port Adelaide has done - I take a lot of optimism out of it too, since it proves that clubs can be turned around, if the right decisions are made, and real efforts are made to engage with the fans and not take their support for granted. Hopefully some of what has occurred there is replicated at my club in the future, as from the outside it would appear to be a fantastic community to be a part of.
Radelaide
Guest
It's been a great ride so far and it does give me hope for the likes of Melbourne, Dogs etc who I have empathy for since we spent so long down, (there seems to be twice as many Crows fans in this state when Port were doing badly). Hawthorn were another team that has done the same, spent some years down in the wilderness (had debates about merging with Melbourne) and they were able to get a good coach, a high profile president (albeit shot his mouth off one too many times) and used high draft picks to pick up the likes of Hodge, Lewis, Franklin and Roughead as well as pick up others like Gibson, Burgoyne, Hale and Dew to turn it all around
Avatar
Roar Guru
I'd love to see Port Adelaide reach the Grand Final, which would show just how far they've come from the rabble of 2011-12, but I think the Hawks will reach the Grand Final on the basis of their finals and premiership experience. Win or lose, Port have come a very long way.
The Oven
Guest
I'm a swans fan and I'm the same! They have a big future ahead of them as a club given how young their stars are.
PartTimeZombie
Guest
I'm loving watching Port too, they play a great brand of Footy. As a Hawks fan I won't be cheering for them on Saturday, but if they do get up I will be the following week.