Universal Love Keith Thomas

[RussellEbertHandball]

I think what we've just read is an email from a CEO trying to save the club, while the Chairman and Coach are trying to save themselves. KT just fell on his sword.

I didn't think of it directly that way, but I know if Ken goes early with a big payout and AFL soft cap tax imposed, KT probably goes at the same time. I've written before I expect an exodus come October 2020.

 

[tribey]

Like we are the only AFL club to have had issues. Nearly ever club other than WC hav been in s**tters ditch financially at some point.

Even West Coast!

Their poor average home crowds in the early years were the reason the SANFL went full metal fruchoctopia with the Crows’ branding.

 

[ctpower]

"I'm sorry you’re not happy, but we'll continue to ignore you and what you really want whilst saying you're important". That's how I read it.

That’s how I read it too.

 

[Joelg]

This has been his style for a long time.

When he locks himself away, his exec assistant moves a whyteboard across in front of her desk and hides behind it, too.

That’s funny - or is it true!?

 

[raptalia]

Hooray at last- the Adelaide media are applying the blow torch to Ken.

Our boy Simeon Thomas-Wilson has a story about KT's email on the back page of today's Monopoly Times. Mr T-W describes KT's e-mail as 'extraordinary' and highlights KT's 'blame me not Ken' statements.

Warren Tredrea also has a column on both Pyke and Hinkley being under pressure. According to Tredders 'if Pyke and Hinkley were not contracted they would be out of a job'.

This is a significant development because at last the media spotlight is on Ken's under achievements. Of course it is one thing for the media to question Hinkley's future but another for the right people at Alberton to realise we are on the train to nowhere with Ken at the controls.

 

[raptalia]

I didn't think of it directly that way, but I know if Ken goes early with a big payout and AFL soft cap tax imposed, KT probably goes at the same time. I've written before I expect an exodus come October 2020.

Do you think KT is accepting some responsibility for the decision to reappoint Hinkley before his contract had expired? As I see it if Hinkley were to go early it would be an admission that someone made the wrong call back in 2017.

If you are right and there is an exodus I hope it doesn't stop with Hinkley and Thomas as there are some Board Members who should also go, starting with the Chairman.

 

[Butters Made Me Do It]

AFL 2019: Ken Hinkley confronted the Port Adelaide board asking them to assure him of his job two weeks ago

Revealed: Port Adelaide coach confronted the board asking if he’ll be sacked

www.foxsports.com.au

The response he received from the board was emphatically positive and they unequivocally backed the 52-year-old to see out his contract, which expires at the end of 2021.

It’s understood the board concluded the club was doing OK and Hinkley remained the right man to lead the Power forward.

Chairman David Koch, who on Monday said there would be a full review at season’s end, and Hinkley remain aligned.

It looks like they’re building up to sell us KT resigning as 100% of the solution.

Its maybe 8%.

SACK HINKLEY

 

[Iwish]

Agree.

Without wanting to be silly, I really think this weekend’s match against Essendon is Hinkley and the club’s sliding doors moment.

If we pull off the very unlikely feat of winning, there is some chance we could win the following three, and make the finals with enough momentum to pinch one. I know it’s pie in the sky and against the grain of most thinking here (including my own). However, this week’s fixture could be that important. I think Thomas is praying for this scenario to be delivered for his and Ken’s sake.

I agree if ken is coaching us round 1 next year i think we look back next year and say gee that bombers game was the turning point for ken. Or if he is not it would have been the game that ended him

 

[FishingRick04]

AFL 2019: Ken Hinkley confronted the Port Adelaide board asking them to assure him of his job two weeks ago

Revealed: Port Adelaide coach confronted the board asking if he’ll be sacked

www.foxsports.com.au

It looks like they’re building up to sell us KT resigning as 100% of the solution.

Its maybe 8%.

SACK HINKLEY

Didn’t you know, KT has a massive game day influence!!!!!!

 

[AFC AFeederClub]

Keith is delusional, if the team played with a brand that we could see and were consistant, stop losing games we should win, stop losing games under 2 goals then the crowds would be there, the membership would be there and it would be happy days, the reason for all those failures is Ken Hinkley, swallow your pride, get a sense of reality and sack the flog

 

[bomberclifford]

Hinkley remained the right man to lead the Power forward.

If only he would pick a power forward.

 

[Papa G]

Didn’t you know, KT has a massive game day influence!!!!!!

Exactly. Thomas has made mistakes and missteps, but he has zero to do with selection, tactics, fitness, skills, list management (actually may have a say in list management).

I personally think KT is cooked, but him leaving won't make us play better.

 

[Black 18]

I'd be devestated if KT left whilst Koch and Ken remained.

Surely the Club wouldn't be thinking that throwing a sacrificial offering to the supporters (that won't in anyway address the problems we currently have) is their way forward?

I truly hope they aren't that stupid. That would be like tipping petrol on a fire.

Wouldn't surprise me as David Koch is all about perception and spin. The guy is nowhere near smart enough (football knowledge) or brave enough to address anything he may have been responsible for.

KT going without others following too would be an epic fail once more.

 

[Macca19]

The club needs to stop looking at 2014 as some wonderful achievement. If anything, it totally signified our issues just as much as anything else. 2 games clear on top of the ladder, choke through the second half of the season to miss out on top 4 after losing what should have been wins against Essendon, Collingwood and Adelaide, rob ourselves of a GF after kicking 3.9 in the first quarter of a Prelim. It's nothing to look at fondly.

Port Adelaide never looked so intently on the past. We used it as a compass only, to ensure the club was on the right path. It was never used as a "yeah but remember 1980 etc etc"

 

[MrMeaner]

My feeling, KT is more traditional Port than Koch.

 

[Magus]

The club needs to stop looking at 2014 as some wonderful achievement. If anything, it totally signified our issues just as much as anything else. 2 games clear on top of the ladder, choke through the second half of the season to miss out on top 4 after losing what should have been wins against Essendon, Collingwood and Adelaide, rob ourselves of a GF after kicking 3.9 in the first quarter of a Prelim. It's nothing to look at fondly.

Port Adelaide never looked so intently on the past. We used it as a compass only, to ensure the club was on the right path. It was never used as a "yeah but remember 1980 etc etc"

Whilst I agree with you, the difference at home games between then and now is massive. It's been a fall from grace on field but the whole experience is worse now.

 

[PowerLil]

Received a response from KT early this morning on the back of responding to his email sent to members last night. I feel for him. He's made some ordinary decisions and misplaced his faith. His biggest failure is believing Ken's bs.

 

[bomberclifford]

the difference at home games between then and now is massive.

There was something they managed to harness in 2013/14 and even 2015 that is completely missing now.

It's more than just viewing through disgruntled eyes, the game day experience has turned up the lameness to eleven and forgotten about the reasons people come to the footy.

I personally don't mind the Perfect Pair thing, it's a minor aspect of the game day and engages well with a certain demographic, it's also bloody easy to ignore of it's not your thing.

The worst thing about game day for me is the ground announcer. Either their personal style is wrong or the brief they are given by the club is wrong. It feels like a bland and generic 'shouty' man is given mic just before a game.

Surely there's a Port person out there, more capable of doing this.

Matt Tarrant is the first name that comes to mind but his availability through the season would rule him out.
Dylan Lewis would be an option but I don't know where he's located these days.


Regardless, my overall impression on the game day these days is they are trying too hard, doing too much and not really understanding the type of person that supports Port Adelaide.

I was recently told by someone at the club that "Port supporters aren't Gucci and Bollinger, they're Peter Jackson and Jim Beam" which is reasonably accurate, however the presentation of the club's brand on game day is more "Sports Girl and Fruity Lexia".

 

[Macca19]

Whilst I agree with you, the difference at home games between then and now is massive. It's been a fall from grace on field but the whole experience is worse now.

Only because the new car smell has worn off. If we were shit in 14 instead of coming up with a bunch of landmark wins at home, then I wonder how fondly the AO experience would be remembered from 14. Because not much has changed. But then maybe thats the issue, its all become a bit stale.

 

[Macca19]

There was something they managed to harness in 2013/14 and even 2015 that is completely missing now.

It's more than just viewing through disgruntled eyes, the game day experience has turned up the lameness to eleven and forgotten about the reasons people come to the footy.

I personally don't mind the Perfect Pair thing, it's a minor aspect of the game day and engages well with a certain demographic, it's also bloody easy to ignore of it's not your thing.

The worst thing about game day for me is the ground announcer. Either their personal style is wrong or the brief they are given by the club is wrong. It feels like a bland and generic 'shouty' man is given mic just before a game.

Surely there's a Port person out there, more capable of doing this.

Matt Tarrant is the first name that comes to mind but his availability through the season would rule him out.
Dylan Lewis would be an option but I don't know where he's located these days.


Regardless, my overall impression on the game day these days is they are trying too hard, doing too much and not really understanding the type of person that supports Port Adelaide.

I was recently told by someone at the club that "Port supporters aren't Gucci and Bollinger, they're Peter Jackson and Jim Beam" which is reasonably accurate, however the presentation of the club's brand on game day is more "Sports Girl and Fruity Lexia".

Not sure I agree. Walsh was still the announcer in 14 and 15. The pre game has barely changed at all. There was a DJ on ground in 14 and 15. Perfect Pair has replaced the Kiss-O-Vision thing they were doing in 14 and 15. There was kickin for chickin pre game, thats now been replaced with the catch the ball thing at 1/4 time. The Rundle Mall march still happens. Not Giving In is the same. NTUA is the same. The main difference to the pre game is no Village and I think that's had an effect.

The main thing is in 2014 Not Giving In was fresh and exciting, now its probably past its use by date. NTUA was supporter led and grew into this huge thing, it was fresh and exciting. Now half the crowd don't really care. There's no DJ anymore, meh.

I don't think there's a huge difference to what we were doing then as to what we are doing now, its just the freshness of the stadium and of the pre game has worn off.

 

[bomberclifford]

Only because the new car smell has worn off. If we were s**t in 14 instead of coming up with a bunch of landmark wins at home, then I wonder how fondly the AO experience would be remembered from 14. Because not much has changed. But then maybe thats the issue, its all become a bit stale.

Game Day Village disappearing is a massive difference to the game day experience.

Got people in early, meet up with mates, mingle with opposition supporters, people got revved up, mingle with ex players after the game, etc.

It's something that was so perfectly pitched to what your typical Port supporter wanted out of the football that losing it has meant we've lost something of our soul. That's why they fought so hard against it.

We're now just another one of the sterile football franchises around the country with a safe and generic gameday experience. Get in, take your seat, raise your scarves, then leave in an orderly fashion.

#cu@thefooty

 

[Schulzenfest]

AFL 2019: Ken Hinkley confronted the Port Adelaide board asking them to assure him of his job two weeks ago

Revealed: Port Adelaide coach confronted the board asking if he’ll be sacked

www.foxsports.com.au

It looks like they’re building up to sell us KT resigning as 100% of the solution.

Its maybe 8%.

SACK HINKLEY

I wouldn't be putting much stock in that story. Has been 100% unequivocally denied by both Koch and Ken, and Tom Morris has a proven history of making shit up.

 

[bomberclifford]

The main thing is in 2014 Not Giving In was fresh and exciting, now its probably past its use by date. NTUA was supporter led and grew into this huge thing, it was fresh and exciting. Now half the crowd don't really care. There's no DJ anymore, meh.

Not Giving In is well past its use by date.

NTUA is hard to care about when things are going badly, but sticking with it for the long term, through the rough times, is how these things become a tradition.

Something as simple as a DJ on Friday or Saturday night games (when we ever get them) should almost be mandatory.

 

[Power Raid]

Yep and the ‘Norwood flog’ must read BF.
It was one of his better ones and definitely written by him. It is sounding like the club’s hands might be tied re Ken, arghhhh

I'm a little disappointed by the "norwood flog" reference.

1) PAFC needs to be open to the entire footy world, to attract the best talent to help our cause
2) If any club in the SANFL warranted respect and that's norwood.

No doubt he has the confidence to brush it off

 

[tribey]

The worst thing about game day for me is the ground announcer. Either their personal style is wrong or the brief they are given by the club is wrong. It feels like a bland and generic 'shouty' man is given mic just before a game.

He’s so generic he could rock up in his Adelaide Strikers gameday gear and no-one, including him, would notice.