I don't think either Port or the AFL thought it would be this bad. I know for a fact that the club in the past few years has had the attitude that when push comes to shove, they'll sign up. This year though, it's different. The dissatisfaction is at fever pitch and it isn't dissipating. The supporter base is completely fed up and willing to act on it.
Both the AFL and Port have underestimated it and by the time it became apparent it was too late to do anything about it. The time to sack Hinkley was directly after the season finished. At that stage the true drop in member numbers was not clear. They thought the 150th would be the saviour and buy them time - it hasn't.
If this regime was a government or a business board, they would have all been turfed out by now.
Probably more politics than common sense.