What went wrong at Port Adelaide in 2015?

Sitting 12th on the ladder with 32 points it’s near impossible for the Power to reach the finals.

It’s undeniable that this season has been a definite failure for a side expected to play deep into the finals. So with such a talented squad at Ken Hinkley’s disposal where did it all go wrong?

There’s a distinct feel that Port’s game plan has been figured out well and truly by opposition sides as their run and carry out of the backline, led by Jasper Pittard, hasn’t worked as well as it has in previous seasons. Chief Executive Keith Thomas emphasised this by stating to The Age,

“Port is not being allowed to play the style of footy it was playing. What really good teams do is they adjust and find a way through it. We haven’t done that.”

With their game plan salvaged the focus in certain forums has shifted to the tactical prowess of Ken Hinkley, questioning where his Plan B is.

For Hinkley, this is only a blemish in his successful coaching career to date, only highlighting the areas of inexperience that is exist in his coaching plans and responses to adversity which has improved over the season in which he hasn’t shied away from making the hard decisions, dropping regular team members over the season, such as Tom Jonas and Angus Monfries in more recent times.

The recruitment drive of the club is also a possible area to discuss as a explanation behind the teams on-field demise. In recent years, the club’s main focus within the draft and free agency market alike has been the attacking aspect of their game, with players like Karl Amon, Angus Monfries, Matt White, Ollie Wines, Paddy Ryder, Jared Polec and Mitch Harvey joining the club.

All players are attack-orientated, and while they have contributed to the success of the club in some aspects, they also highlight the team’s lack of focus for the defensive side of the game with Jarman Impey (Pick 21) being the only defensive player picked up in the past couple of years, forcing his way into the 22.

The majority of Port’s gameplan revolves around the half-back run of players such as Pittard, Broadbent, Hartlett, Impey and O’Shea, based in part upon the way Ken Hinkley played the game. As mentioned, the effectiveness of this has worn thin with not enough big bodies in and around the defensive fifty contests.

While Jack Hombsch, who is in All-Australian contention, has become a real find along with Tom Clurey, players such as Trengove and Jonas haven’t been able to reach the form of previous years, in particular Jonas who was dropped early in July to the Magpies and has failed to warrant his spot back.

The form of Jonas is therefore a real concern for Port who have struggled to overcome the loss of another tall key defender Alipate Carlile to injury, aggravating the defensive concerns within the side.

The progress of Paddy Ryder into the squad has also advanced slower then expected with Matt Broadbent even stating to The Age,

“Since Paddy has come in, it has been a work in progress for him to fit into the team and how the structures work. He is certainly building his own form and confidence.”

Ryder’s been used more as a tall forward then a ruckman with some pundits indicating that Ryder’s previous reputation as an eighty per cent ruckman has caused concern with him and Lobbe struggling to rotate effectively.

Furthermore, there has been a worrying lack of depth within the squad compared to last year. The Magpies, their SANFL team, has failed to reach the standards of last year.

This has found its way into the Port squad with players such as Sam Gray, Sam Colquhoun and Kane Mitchell failing to reach the heights they did last year. In 2014 they continually played a role in their impact upon the game, whether that be in the green vest or in the forward pocket line, particularly Mitchell, who was well known for hovering around the contests, crumbing with pace and easily identifiable with the signature locks reminiscent of Jesus.

Therefore, a lack of depth and defensive height and pressure can be assessed as the main reason behind Port’s demise from premiership contenders to 12th place.