News Chris Davies departs for Carlton

[El_Scorcho]

I was somewhat intrigued to hear Davies say a couple of times, "We will reflect on that"

WTF does that mean - hardly a paint blistering review by external sources.

It's a classic kicking the can down the road phrase from the same philosophy of "judge me at the end of the season" and "judge me based on the whole season not just the last game".

 

[Cheesey Mac]

Might be an unpopular opinion, but I respect Davies and think he did a good job here. He fronted the media as long as possible, asking all questions. Of course he's gonna back Ken, he has to, but he was also quite honest and open about a lot of the list decisions and throwing his support behind some of our players.

I thought he spoke well broadly, and credit to him for fronting and staying despite Norton trying to wind it up. The list management stuff and supporting players is something he's routinely done well in front of the media.

The thing that annoyed me in terms of him being honest though was when he was asked about his relationship with Ken and he went down the path of 'oh we work together and get along here', when everyone who is paying attention, media included, knows they're in the gambling syndicate together. I get that he isn't going to out himself to the media and say 'yeah we've got mutual financial interests so I'm not going to knife him', but the mock disdain on his face when answering that question was like when you catch someone in a bald faced lie while they're trying to keep it together, and in that moment I couldn't help but feel angry at him for perpetuating the current status quo and advancing the disease that has infected the club.

 

[bomberclifford]

Remember the "We know who you are" tough talk?
That was five years ago.
Wonder when they'll get around to doing something about it?

 

[PepeSilvia]

Smart guy or not, good operator or not - he has protected and enabled Hinkley for too long to avoid serious scrutiny. He should not be seen separately from Hinkley/Koch/Richardson.

Davies would understand that his fate is tied to Hinkley’s, and that when Hinkley goes, he goes too. From a purely self-interested perspective, assuming he wants to continue being employed by the club, his only play is to do whatever he can to keep Hinkley in the job for as long as possible. I don’t necessarily blame Davies for doing what he can to protect his own employment.

The real shame is that, had he stopped backing Hinkley at any point prior to January 2021, the above might not be true. Or he’d have left the club with at least a shred of his dignity intact.

 

[PortPortPort]

We bag Richo for giving us nothing then lip service of ‘this is not acceptable’, we bag Koch and Hinkley for their message, we bag Davies for fronting the media and not throwing blokes under the bus? What do we expect?

One of Koch, Richardson, Ken or Davies to say they ****ed up finals by going hard in the season, to say they ****ed up by playing injured players that shouldn't have played.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

I feel there is less heat on Chris than the others because he is the one going out there when something goes wrong which at least shows some level of accountability.

Radio silence from Ken, Richo and Koch though. But when things are going well, they are all over our screens.

 

[PowerLil]

The football department is a sh*tshow. Hinkley's re-signing, Bassett and Cornes' continual employment, AFL team performance, SANFL, development, injury mismanagement, the concussion debacles are all under his guise. Terrible operator.

 

[Powerade 08]

The football department is a sh*tshow. Hinkley's re-signing, Bassett and Cornes' continual employment, AFL team performance, SANFL, development, injury mismanagement, the concussion debacles are all under his guise. Terrible operator.

Don't forget the leadership group. This guy has not got a thing right for at least 5 years.

 

[HighBudget]

Sack Bald Men

No Balders! Not even one

 

[HighBudget]

That’s Ken when his assistants recommend anything

 

[Schulzenfest]

We bag Richo for giving us nothing then lip service of ‘this is not acceptable’, we bag Koch and Hinkley for their message, we bag Davies for fronting the media and not throwing blokes under the bus? What do we expect?

Resignations.

 

[El_Scorcho]

Resignations.

People act like we're being ridiculous but in any other major professional sporting organisation, these people would have jumped before they were pushed more than 5 years ago.

The Hinkley contract extension is unforgivable, especially given his tenure here. Someone has to pay for that with their job.

 

[GremioPower]

in any other major professional sporting organisation, these people would have jumped before they were pushed more than 5 years ago.

Not exactly. It depends on whether “major” refers to “organization” or “sporting”. If you mean “major organization”, then, yes, you are right.

But there are competing clubs in major leagues that take “mediocrity” as success (not all of them should even be blamed for that). Their case is different.

Our current regime clearly takes Port to be one of the latter; not, of the former.

 

[1954]

I agree with those who have suggested Davies is way too close to kern, but I doubt we will know how good, bad, or indifferent he really is until the spectre of koch is gone.

The yolk of the kokmeister's dictatorship is the club's number one problem moving forward, if he can be removed and replaced with a genuine Port Adelaide person there has to be a strong chance the other dominoes can fall into place quickly.

The removing him bit would not be easy of course, as no doubt he is rusted onto the power rush he gets from the gig.
It would almost certainly have to come from pressure by the board, but surely some of them will eventually wake up and smell the coffee before it goes completely cold!

Edit
and yes I know the last bit is wishful thinking!

 

[Port85]

Davies, while not perfect (eg we’ve had about 5 years to get a tall defender after Doogs was pushed out), is probably the least problematic person in leadership at the club.

 

[PowerLil]

Davies, while not perfect (eg we’ve had about 5 years to get a tall defender after Doogs was pushed out), is probably the least problematic person in leadership at the club.

Based on what exactly?

 

[EskimoPAFC]

Based on what exactly?

I mean compared to Hinkley, Koch and Richo its not exactly a high bar to clear.

 

[Port85]

Based on what exactly?

Everyone else has done a worse job?

Ken, Koch, Richo, long-term boys club rusted on assistant coaches etc.

I’d put Davies behind them. He at least sounds like he knows what he’s doing.

 

[PowerLil]

Everyone else has done a worse job?

Ken, Koch, Richo, long-term boys club rusted on assistant coaches etc.

I’d put Davies behind them. He at least sounds like he knows what he’s doing.

He's the prime mover behind Ken still being here. I watch them together the times I've gone to training, see whatever vision there is on TV, listen to interviews etc. Look at the timeline. Davies got here end of.2014.. Hinkley has been untouchable since then. Get rid of one and the other will be gone.

 

[Launchpad McQuack]

Everyone else has done a worse job?

Ken, Koch, Richo, long-term boys club rusted on assistant coaches etc.

I’d put Davies behind them. He at least sounds like he knows what he’s doing.

His actions indicate he is just as useless.

 

[PJ Power]

He is a better, more decisive speaker than the others who is more careful to not contradict himself or sound like a weak hypocrite. However, his actions and their outcomes do not match his words. In some ways, he’s the most dangerous/toxic because at least he sounds competent but really isn’t. The others are fools and also sound like it.

Player recruitment is only as good as the final result. Yes, we’ve brought in some trade successes, but none of them have been an undeniable, sustained success at our club. Aliir, Finlayson, Ryder, Motlop, Rockliff, Dixon, Burton, Lycett, Fantasia have all so far been hot for us initially and then have either cooled a bit or a lot. None of them have been a consistent and reliable force for their entire time with us. Aliir is the one slight exception. So, yes that’s on Hinkley mostly but Davies should call him out on that. He also needs to take responsibility for leaving us vulnerable in defence and ruck despite the signs all year last year.

 

[Harlott]

He’s got as much to show for his time here as everyone else.

 

[1954]

Ken.

Re punchable heads, the bloke on the left has arguably the most punchable in the history of man!

 

[VineValerian]

Of all those who have responded to criticism the past week, Davies probably comes across as slightly better because he just dealt in facts on players' futures at Port, what we are looking for recruiting wise, etc.

Didn't try to gaslight us - ala Rooch.

Didn't cut and paste an email to supporters from 2 years ago saying all was hunky dory - ala Richo.

Didn't harrumph critics by wiping their concerns, and telling them that only he and the club knew what was right (or wrong) with things, and were the only ones competent and knew what they were doing - also Moi.

At least he was smart enough not to polish a turd and call it Haigh's chocolate, like them.
Small mercies, I guess.

 

[PowerLil]

Of all those who have responded to criticism the past week, Davies probably comes across as slightly better because he just dealt in facts on players' futures at Port, what we are looking for recruiting wise, etc.

Didn't try to gaslight us - ala Rooch.

Didn't cut and paste an email to supporters from 2 years ago saying all was hunky dory - ala Richo.

Didn't harrumph critics by wiping their concerns, and telling them that only he and the club knew what was right (or wrong) with things, and were the only ones competent and knew what they were doing - also Moi.

At least he was smart enough not to polish a turd and call it Haigh's chocolate, like them.
Small mercies, I guess.

Just proves he's two faced.

Footy boss reveals his Hinkley recommendation to Port board

“...It’s time for some decisions to be made.”

www.sen.com.au