Where to now for Port Adelaide? The Power were the darlings of the competition in 2013 and 2014, coinciding with Ken Hinkley’s first two seasons when he took over one of the bigger basket-cases we’ve seen since the demise of Fitzroy.
Their game was built on extreme fitness and hard running, best summed up by Hinkley himself when he said “If you come and play against Port Adelaide, then you’re going to have to run. And you’re going to have to run really hard for four quarters.”
It is interesting to note that in the years the Power played finals, they were ranked sixth and seventh in uncontested possession. That dropped to 12th in 2015, and they currently rank 17th this year.
Uncontested possessions counts are built on two main aspects – players running hard into space, and the player with the ball being able to deliver accurately.
Watching the Power, it feels they are not the hard-running side that they once were, or have at least lost whatever competitive advantage they may have had. The one thing they certainly don’t do is play hard for four quarters.
Port are ranked 18th for disposal efficiency this season, and have never ranked higher than 14th under Ken Hinkley.
As we’ve seen with Hawthorn over recent years, the ability to create space and overlap run is a key to today’s game. The more players you have in space, the more options you have, and the easier it is to hit a target. The more space you have when receiving the ball, the less pressure you are under to deliver, and disposal efficiency should rise accordingly.
The Hawks have ranked in the top two for disposal efficiency every year from 2011 onwards, to coincide with their dominant period of success. Port have simply never delivered the ball well enough, and if they’re not running hard enough or long enough to find space and create options, we can see why it is all breaking down.
When it comes to classy Port players, we think of Robbie Gray through the middle, Chad Wingard up forward, and Jasper Pittard from half-back (if you can get his howlers out of your mind).
Travis Boak has never been silky, Brad Ebert even less so, and Ollie Wines is the inside bull and clearance specialist. Prime movers, and all have their place on an AFL field, so they need more outside deliverers to complement them.
Hamish Hartlett simply doesn’t get enough of the ball, and his AFL career will be filed under ‘D’ for disappointment. Jared Polec offers something when not injured, players like he and Sam Gray might be part of the problem more than the solution.
Sides like the Western Bulldogs, Adelaide, GWS and Geelong have ten or more players averaging 20 disposals a game, while Port has five, with only one Robbie Gray, you’d consider as class.
And the problem with that is because Robbie’s ability to win the ball at stoppages is so great, and his contested possession rate is so high, he isn’t able to provide the outside run that he could.
The Power’s inconsistency is also well summed up by the fact they have a losing record at home this year (4-7 from 11 matches at Adelaide Oval) but a winning record away (5-4 interstate), which flies in the face of their home ground being some kind of fortress.
People have long been seduced by the best of Port, and the peak games or big moments we see from individuals. But that story has long since turned the last page.
The sequel is not nearly as thrilling, nor full of hope. This pre-season looms as a big one for Hinkley and the players. By landing Paddy Ryder and Charlie Dixon, both questionable acquisitions, they sent a message they were ready to keep climbing and contend, but they are a long way from it.
If Hinkley can’t manufacture a winning game-plan for 2017, and the players can’t deliver it, the media scrutiny and turmoil which they have thus far avoided will come hard.
The Oven
Guest
Brett Ebert? Isn't he retired?
The Oven
Guest
I'm neither a crows or power supporter, but I do think the crows are less relevant these days. They're doing well this year, but they have been incredible underachievers. 2005 and 2006 says it all really.
sammy
Guest
no jest - Rucci (our no 1 sportswriter..or so we are told) make the claim almost every year. Then there is Dittmar, Tredrea, cornes and even guys like McDermott and Bickley feed the myth that Port will finish above the crows and have the better list. As for no injuries, this is the first year that we have avoided them on a large scale basis so we were due some good luck after the coaching tragedies, poached players, unjust AFL sanctions etc etc etc that have hit our club over the last few years
Bob
Guest
Let's just agree to disagree Sammy. This debate will go on forever if we don't, and I have important things to get done today.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
To add to my comment above, there's a few players that are a large part of the problem for Port that the coaching staff need to wake up to. Brett Ebert is the biggest name of these, been in the system for years and still can't kick a football, Cam Oshea, Jake Neade, both have poor disposal, Neade should be persevered with, but Oshea been giving the ball back for years. Butcher is a wasted spot on the list, Kane Mitchell can't kick, Paul Stewart is a good player but not quite at AFL standard. With these players on the list it's going to be hard to win a premiership
Brendon the 1st
Guest
You're right, I remember when Dean Bailey described him as the best kid he's coached, what's happened since?
sammy
Guest
Oh, I forgot to mention in the humiliation stakes that Port are first to count pet memberships as numbers and they also hold the record low crowd number attending a home game for either club
sammy
Guest
less relevant - to the contrary it has been more relevant for the entire time your club has been in the AFL. It certainly seems you have lost the argument as last century was only 3 seasons before your arbitrary time and how can you compare things if you don't consider all things since your club entered the comp.Tired narrative not backed up by stats - well yes it is - go count the number of finals wins and premierships since port entered the comp in 1997 - fact show that the crows are superior in all major stats. Then line up the humiliations I have noted.. I will admit hands down, that port has brought far more humiliation on itself than the crows have. Add to that how things look now for both clubs. Your club had better be careful as if things don't improve after all the assistance the AFL has given it in recent years, a relocation or being wound up is on the cards
Bob
Guest
Can't handle the fact that your team is less relevant in this century Sammy? Can't handle the fact that your tired narrative isn't backed up by stats? Yes, the Crows have been better over the last couple of years, but Port have been the better side over the longer stretch. If you're needing to go back into the last century to try and prove the Crows are better, then you've already lost.
sammy
Guest
but lets not stop there, how about humiliation Port has brought since they have been in the comp. There is the AFL VFL record losing grand final margin, a first up loss to a new franchise tea, the greatest losing margin in a league game by a team from South Australia, the tarps - oh the tarps, begging the AFL for money to keep the club from closing its doors, finishing lower on the laded than the crows ever have. But hey, for a little suburban middling club, what would anyone expect. Looking forward to the weekend
sammy
Guest
Hehehe Bob. Why start at 2000? - lets start in 1997 (only 3 short years before your arbitrary date) when your club entered the comp that way we can really compare who has been more successful. Add 2 premierships to the Crows, 2 more preliminary final wins and a number of further finals wins (I will give you a hint, the total crows finals wins since 1997 is greater than Port's). So yep, the entire country would know whose numbers to prefer (apart from you obviously), and another hint - it isn't Port's
Paul
Guest
Of coruse they also planned for Dougal Howard to do an ACL and Billy Frampton to be injured all year along with the Lobbe injury. At the end of last season they probably have 4 contingincies in place for ruck before Trengove.
Bob
Guest
Let's pull up some stats to see who's been more successful. Adelaide (from 2000-2015): 10 finals appearances, 1 minor premiership, 4 preliminary finals, 6 total wins in September) Port Adelaide (from 2000-2015): 8 finals appearances, 3 minor premierships, 3 preliminary finals, 1 Premiership, 1 Grand Final loss, 11 total wins in September) I know who's numbers I'd prefer.
tom m
Guest
Hartlett has been a great disappointment for multiple years now. Yes he can kick the ball a mile but he is far from accurate and always get caught up in the biff when infact he is one of the softest players on the field. He is way overrated
tom m
Guest
Them not having a ruckman is their own fault. Jarrad Redden came back from multiple injuries last year played 5 SANFL games. Port Delisted him knowing full well that Ryder could be suspended leaving them with only 1 recognised ruckmen in Lobbe on their list. Its their own doing that they were left with Trengrove in the ruck
mattyb
Guest
As a Victorian I don't really know what goes on in SA and the media etc but Adalaide are clearly a more successful club than Port going by what I can see. The Crows are an extremely successful AFL club while Port are just your regular run of the mill side with a possible underachieving element to them. Maybe some Adelaide supporters can help me with one of my perceptions. In Victoria we have some clubs living in fantasy land because of past achievements and I wonder if Port suffer from this because of their affiliation with the old SANFL club. It does seem a bizarre and a long stretch for Port fans to think they are anywhere near as relevant as the crows in the AFL world. Their must be a reason for their misplaced perception regarding their club.
Sammy
Guest
Difference is our poorer years were nothing like ports in terms of beltings and embarasements in losing to new franchise teams, lack of supporters turning up and begging the AFL for handouts to keep our club from folding. And with all the high draft picks port have had that the crows have not we still have a superior record to port since 2013. Your club is on the nose big time and mine..well..who knows how this year will end but it will end with yet another finals appearance
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Let's hope Ken now understands that disposal efficiency is the key, no good running when someone passes the ball to a space 10 meters behind you. Injuries have been over looked, Schulz, Carlisle, Hombsch, Lobbe, Ryder, Monfries, White, Polec, Jonas through suspension. Boak and Hartlett have had bad years, so has Ollie Wines, surely that won't happen again......hopefully. All is not lost, but a pre season working on the basics is needed. Some good finds have come from this year as well, Darcy Byrne Jones and Logan Austin, that's a big and a small in the back line that look OK. Confidence needs to be restored and they will be OK.
anon
Guest
Hinkley, much like Lyon has a "look" about him. The look of a slightly gruff, no-nonsense, hard-nosed senior coach. People give them the benefit of the doubt. How many chances has Hinkley had to under deliver now? Port have been nothing short of mediocre since around mid-2014. Hinkley's still living off the good will from that 2014 preliminary final near win against Hawthorn. Meanwhile, you have guys like Buckley or Hardwick who basically never catch a break from the media and public. Buckley "stole" Malthouse's job is many eyes, so whatever he does will never be good enough. Hardwick, he just seems like fun for the media to mess with. Always takes the bait.
Jake
Guest
Oh surely you jest. The SA media always has been and always will be Crows biased. Almost nil injuries to Crows. Depth has not been tested.