Opinion End The Negativity

[Capital Power]

We will have a harder draw than this year but it shouldn't be too bad. Since we officially finished 7th we're actually in the middle tier for fixturing purposes. So from memory that means we can only have a maximum of 2 double-ups from the Top 6 and the other 3 (possibly 4) will be against teams 8 and below.

And presumably Adelaide will count as a top 6 double up next year, so at worst only one more? So we just have to win a Showdown

 

[Mr39]

Those were not the dark days. Those were the days where we had nothing and played accordingly. Now are the days where we have plenty but squander it, and actively make decisions which will lead to more squandering in future. That is much worse.

Which decisions have been made to squander our future?

 

[Hellgood]

I am reasonably bullish about the ability, composition and depth of our list.

However time and time again over, well more than a decade, collectively we've consistently been a mentally weak football side incapable of taking the opportunities within our grasp. I don't know what solves that. Coaches, players and administrators have come through the doors, yet this feeling and perception of fragility has remained.

 

[simmo_bc]

Not what I said. We just made the finals after 2 years of missing out. We have strong memberships, strong attendances, are building our sponsors, have put valuable game time into kids.
If you can't see that this is better/more positive than the club being on it's knees financially whilst putting in pea-hearted efforts week in week out, you're delusional.

We all want a premiership, they don't just hand them out.

I appreciate your thread, probably a bit too raw for some (me) to move forward just yet.

 

[raman]

Which decisions have been made to squander our future?

A two year extension for a coach who has done nothing to earn it.

 

[Mr39]

A two year extension for a coach who has done nothing to earn it.

Did I miss a re-signing?

And who would you bring in to replace him? What wonder coach is sitting in the wings waiting to turn our fortunes around?

 

[Adz2332]

as much as i do disagree with a few points, we are miles off a flag, ken has to be really looked at, and some of the senior players i dont think are up to it. what you cant fault is, yes some players didnt play well, yes some made some bad mistakes, but they left everything out there. every player busted their asses and after the game were emotional shows what it meant to them.
you cant fault the effort and the passion was there. just some arent up to it both on the field and in the box.

do feel for the guys though, was heart breaking watching it let alone being involved in it

 

[manureid]

Did I miss a re-signing?

And who would you bring in to replace him? What wonder coach is sitting in the wings waiting to turn our fortunes around?

Wouldnt the club be negligent not to look? Why do we need to extend Ken now? He has a year to run.

 

[Holden Hillbilly]

Did I miss a re-signing?

And who would you bring in to replace him? What wonder coach is sitting in the wings waiting to turn our fortunes around?

PORT Adelaide is confident coach Ken Hinkley will not be going anywhere, with the club soon to look to secure him to a new deal beyond 2018.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-11/power-to-move-on-new-deal-for-hinkley

 

[Mr39]

Wouldnt the club be negligent not to look? Why do we need to extend Ken now? He has a year to run.

Yes it would be negligent not to look. And if there's something better out there they should make the moves to get them in. But who is that?

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

Did I miss a re-signing?

And who would you bring in to replace him? What wonder coach is sitting in the wings waiting to turn our fortunes around?

I would trust a former player of ours who has been an assistant coach in a premiership winning team and 2 other grand final appearances

Dew > Hinkley

 

[raman]

Did I miss a re-signing?

Check back in a few hours.

And who would you bring in to replace him? What wonder coach is sitting in the wings waiting to turn our fortunes around?

Worst case scenario we've got a year to work that out.

 

[MotlopRules]

Forgetting who is coach for a minute. I want an answer to the question: Do people feel like we will improve next year. Yes/No and why

How is it possible to answer that question whilst ignoring who the coach(es) is(are) though? The coach is the most important lynch pin of the squad, and it's been proven throughout history countless times that changing the coach is one of the most critical things you can do to either progress or regress as a team.

'Do people feel like we'll improve next year' is not the question we should be asking. It should be 'do we believe this group is capable of winning a premiership with Hinkley as coach vs with someone else as coach?'

The frustration stems from our wasted potential. I remember standing in the rain in 2011 watching us get belted by Collingwood with about three thousand other people, but it didn't hurt as bad as this, cause we were bad and bottoming out and rebuilding and stockpiling draft picks and that's just where we were at. Those years were all about unearthing new talent, pumping games into youngsters, and reloading after Choco burnt through the playing list.

But now? Now we have an AA ruck, one of the best KPFs in the competition, elite small forwards and mids, a defence that has been on song all year and is (in isolation) being wonderfully coached. And yet, we are still wandering in the no-man's land of mid-table finishes. And people think it's being overly negative to be disappointed in that??

Of course there will be natural improvement in certain young players if we pump games into them. Marshall, Doogs, SPP and Bonner, they will all have natural learning curves and improve on their own via #organicgrowth. But as we see now with Wines and Wingard, natural improvement arcs will only get you so far - eventually, your intrinsic talent hits a ceiling and you plateau, and that is where good, strong coaching comes into play, to enable players to take that next step from 'naturally gifted' to 'elite player of the competition.'

I have seen nothing from our coaching group that suggests they have what it takes to elevate players beyond their organic growth ceiling. So, while I fully expect natural improvement from our younger guys, I also expect them to plateau at a certain point, because there is no substitute for structure, game plan and discipline that 'talent' can overcome.

I believe there is a premiership waiting in the likes of Dixon, Wingard, Wines, Robbie Gray, etc. I do not believe that potential premiership will be unlocked by our current coaching group. I sincerely believe that we will piss these guys' careers up against the wall because it is easier to just keep trying with the current mob, than cut and burn and be ruthless and risk failing.

So no, I won't just shut up and be positive. Not when I know what this list could be achieving with a better coaching group.

 

[Mr39]

I would trust a former player of ours who has been an assistant coach in a premiership winning team and 2 other grand final appearances

Dew > Hinkley

Fair enough. Still an unknown quantity.

 

[El Zorro]

We will have a harder draw than this year but it shouldn't be too bad. Since we officially finished 7th we're actually in the middle tier for fixturing purposes. So from memory that means we can only have a maximum of 2 double-ups from the Top 6 and the other 3 (possibly 4) will be against teams 8 and below.

Good point. So we are basically in the same bracket as the last 2 seasons: 7-12.

 

[simmo_bc]

I would trust a former player of ours who has been an assistant coach in a premiership winning team and 2 other grand final appearances

Dew > Hinkley

Adelaide is too small for Stew these days.

I suspect that there is a succession plan in place at Sydney with Longmire and Dew hence why he shows no urgency to be head coach.

Actually, urgency and Dew don't match lol

 

[tribey]

Miss a Grand Final by 3 points at the hands of dynastic Hawthorn.

List profile, recruiting, staffing, fitness and conditioning, everything geared to a premiership window.

Haven't won a final in the three years since.

Heavily rumoured we'll be extending Hinkley regardless.

 

[PAFCsince1870]

Let's be honest, this board has bordered on pathetic all year and for the most part is unreadable.

Even the posts with the most likes in this thread are predictable.

"Port sucks blah blah blah" is a sure fire way to get some freebie likes around here these days.

 

[raman]

PORT Adelaide is confident coach Ken Hinkley will not be going anywhere, with the club soon to look to secure him to a new deal beyond 2018.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-11/power-to-move-on-new-deal-for-hinkley

Even that wording. Why the hell are they creating this perception that Port is worried about Ken leaving, instead of Ken being worried about being fired? What the holy tapdancing **** is that all about?

(Edit: exasperated question is rhetorical. What it's about is setting up a framework through which the inevitable contract extension can be portrayed not merely as a good thing, but as a coup.)

 

[raglan road]

I would trust a former player of ours who has been an assistant coach in a premiership winning team and 2 other grand final appearances

Dew > Hinkley

I don't get it. What has Dew ever done or said that makes people think he would be a great senior coach? Does he have the intelligence, insight and gravitas to bring a football club together? He's an ex Port player, has been involved in successful football programs and... i can understand people rating Bassett as an up and coming coach but the love for Dew escapes me. As for being better than Hinkley, I don't see it.

 

[Lagooner]

And presumably Adelaide will count as a top 6 double up next year, so at worst only one more? So we just have to win a Showdown

They do and it's possible that we could get lucky again and have them as our only Top 6 double-up like we did this year. But two is the maximum I believe and considering that we were the best team in the 7-12 bracket I'd imagine they'll give us two.

 

[croweyrocks]

Forgetting who is coach for a minute. I want an answer to the question: Do people feel like we will improve next year. Yes/No and why

Yes. No significant injuries. 7th on the ladder is where we are at.

 

[tribey]

Let's be honest, this board has bordered on pathetic all year and for the most part is unreadable.

Even the posts with the most likes in this thread are predictable.

"Port sucks blah blah blah" is a sure fire way to get some freebie likes around here these days.

There was almost universal patience through the slump in the backend of 2014 that cost top-2/4.

There was almost universal patience through the ups and downs of 2015.

Many were still positive throughout 2016 due to the circumstances of the Ryder suspension and Dixon injury.

2017 was a parade of missed chances despite the draw, injuries and what was a very even year. Our first final in three years and we choked.

It's almost as if, I don't know, people are finally fed up.

 

[Lagooner]

Those were not the dark days. Those were the days where we had nothing and played accordingly. Now are the days where we have plenty but squander it, and actively make decisions which will lead to more squandering in future. That is much worse.

No because we will have a harder draw and a coach who is demonstrably unable to get the best out of the squad.

Gargantuan "if". I see no sign that the club is trying their best.

A two year extension for a coach who has done nothing to earn it.

Even that wording. Why the hell are they creating this perception that Port is worried about Ken leaving, instead of Ken being worried about being fired? What the holy tapdancing **** is that all about?

Congratulations! Your raman has evolved into rampageman!

 

[Powerade 08]

Forgetting who is coach for a minute. I want an answer to the question: Do people feel like we will improve next year. Yes/No and why

lol we've clearly maxed out with this gameplan, why would anyone think we will improve next season. Second most points scored, second least points conceded.

Very effective against the inexperienced teams who can't get through our press, falls short against the rest.