Opinion Non-Crows AFL 4: The Centre Cannot Hold

[GROTTO]

You plan, train and back your onfield leaders in those moments.

Is it a good look that Hinkley is sitting there doing nothing. Yep but he can't do much at all.

Of course every Club plans for moments like this, no one is saying they dont.

Where Port really failed was with 41s left on clock. His players failed to get into position to ice the game from this position its really that simple. All Clubs practice this. Port players failed to ice the game. He had plenty of time to get a message to the players to create space and ice the gaem.

However, Kenny just sitting back and letting it unfold speaks volumes. Dont also think its 25s left on the clock either, it literally was like another minute left with time on called and stoppage in play.

 

[GROTTO]

Look I'm never going to agree with you so there's no point for further discussion with you.

I know it's popular to heap shit on Kenny and the Powa around these parts but you're attacking the wrong culprit, this is all down to the on field Powa leaders not Kenny.

Actually this is wrong.

Im not heaping shit on Kenny, because he is Port, I would do the same to anyone else or Nicks for that matter if the situations were reversed.

Watch every close game this round, you will see the coach communicate with runners/players in that last minute. Its that simple.

One thing you said is correct, its the Power leaders and that includes Kenny.

 

[GROTTO]

Game, Set and Match.

Revealed: Three moments that prove epic Showdown was ‘lost in the coaches box’​

Revealed: Three moments that prove epic Showdown was ‘lost in the coaches box’

Revealed: Three moments that prove epic Showdown was ‘lost in the coaches box’

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Slippery Pete]

I haven’t read the whole thread but I think Grotto has a point, especially with the photo of that last stoppage.

They had an extra at that stoppage. I don’t know if it was just a lapse in concentration or a direct coaching instruction, but there’s no point having a plus one at the last stoppage of the game on the wing, when your entire set-up is designed to defend a lead behind the ball.

I‘m not saying you concede the stoppage but your entire set-up in that moment is designed to stop the next kick forward… why would you have an attacking set-up at the stoppage? It makes zero sense.

Coaching plays a massive role in these moments. (Of course, it’s better if this stuff is coached into the players prior to the moment occurrring, but the responsibility still falls on the coach, both prior to game day, and on game day).

It isn’t all luck. Some of it is, but not all of it.

The Crows used to lose games like this all the time under Ayres and Craig.

 

[baldandbroke]

How good was Himmelberg there? He fought as hard as anyone in that final few plays. Multiple efforts ... we would have ALL had him in the 2's.

 

[Mutineer]

I haven’t read the whole thread but I think Grotto has a point, especially with the photo of that last stoppage.

They had an extra at that stoppage. I don’t know if it was just a lapse in concentration or a direct coaching instruction, but there’s no point having a plus one at the last stoppage of the game on the wing, when your entire set-up is designed to defend a lead behind the ball.

I‘m not saying you concede the stoppage but your entire set-up in that moment is designed to stop the next kick forward… why would you have an attacking set-up at the stoppage? It makes zero sense.

Coaching plays a massive role in these moments. (Of course, it’s better if this stuff is coached into the players prior to the moment occurrring, but the responsibility still falls on the coach, both prior to game day, and on game day).

It isn’t all luck. Some of it is, but not all of it.

The Crows used to lose games like this all the time under Ayres and Craig.

Remind me again how many games Travis Boak and Tom Jonas have played must be close to 500 games combined?

 

[Slippery Pete]

Remind me again how many games Travis Boak and Tom Jonas have played must be close to 500 games combined?

They definitely bear some responsibility too.

Ultimately though… buck stops upstairs.

 

[CrowsB4hoes]

Don't forget when Dawson was kicking it, Hinkley was downstairs on the bench and not in the coaches box. I'm not sure at what point he went down, as I'm sure within the last 2 minutes there was footage of him upstairs.

Given I couldn't tear myself away though I was bursting for a piss, how can a head coach find time in those last 2 minutes to walk downstairs and to the bench with the game in the balance?

I fully expect the answer is he thought the game was won and went down for the celebrations.

 

[Sanders]

Youre still wrong. Of course they do, I never denied anything of the above.

The issue that you cant wrap your head around is that Kenny sat there laid back and proactively not communicate to his players or runners.

Its also not about Mayes either, of course forwards go back to defend in this situation, Tex does this a lot in close games. Anyone knows this.

But everyone knows successful coaches communicate with their players in that crucial last minute of play. Its a leadership role.

It’s not the NFL. Coaches can’t organise onfield players in a matter of seconds

 

[GROTTO]

Don't forget when Dawson was kicking it, Hinkley was downstairs on the bench and not in the coaches box. I'm not sure at what point he went down, as I'm sure within the last 2 minutes there was footage of him upstairs.

Given I couldn't tear myself away though I was bursting for a piss, how can a head coach find time in those last 2 minutes to walk downstairs and to the bench with the game in the balance?

I fully expect the answer is he thought the game was won and went down for the celebrations.

Nicks stayed in the coaches box the entire time.

Again speaks volumes.

 

[Sanders]

Nicks stayed in the coaches box the entire time.

Again speaks volumes.

Pick a new subject because you’re not right on this one no matter how times you spam it.

There’s plenty to find fault with from Kenny, but this isn’t it

 

[Punchy Bassett]

So that North resurgence this year......

 

[GROTTO]

Pick a new subject because you’re not right on this one no matter how times you spam it.

There’s plenty to find fault with from Kenny, but this isn’t it

Go watch the video about Ken's effort in the box in the last minute posted above as critiqued by the footy analysts post game, learn from this and move on.

 

[Sanders]

Go watch the video about Ken's effort in the box in the last minute posted above as critiqued by the footy analysts post game, learn from this and move on.

Lol.

 

[Bay62]

I still don’t understand how Matthew Nicks was laughing and smiling just before Dawson was about to take the kick. Wonder what was going thru his mind.

That’s an easy one I think, it’s just the emotion coming out, the disbelief that we could be in that situation after being three goals down, just laughing at how unbelievable it was to actually be in that position. Watching it on TV my wife and I were doing the same thing.

Not to mention laughing at the possibility that a kick after the siren could sink Port after they’ve led all game, and they’ll be 0-3. That’s very funny!

 

[texanmike]

How good was Himmelberg there? He fought as hard as anyone in that final few plays. Multiple efforts ... we would have ALL had him in the 2's.

i think he knows he was probably on his last chance and tried his heart out, wish he would try his heart out every week.

 

[whattagun07]

Don't forget when Dawson was kicking it, Hinkley was downstairs on the bench and not in the coaches box. I'm not sure at what point he went down, as I'm sure within the last 2 minutes there was footage of him upstairs.

Given I couldn't tear myself away though I was bursting for a piss, how can a head coach find time in those last 2 minutes to walk downstairs and to the bench with the game in the balance?

I fully expect the answer is he thought the game was won and went down for the celebrations.

Very good point

 

[GROTTO]

That’s an easy one I think, it’s just the emotion coming out, the disbelief that we could be in that situation after being three goals down, just laughing at how unbelievable it was to actually be in that position. Watching it on TV my wife and I were doing the same thing.

Not to mention laughing at the possibility that a kick after the siren could sink Port after they’ve led all game, and they’ll be 0-3. That’s very funny!

I wonder if the idiot thought that Murphy was going to take the kick and hence was laughing the entire time, then to his horror one of the best kicks in the AFL instead was having a shot at goal?

Murphy does not kick that goal almost 99/100 times.

 

[Bay62]

Go watch the video about Ken's effort in the box in the last minute posted above as critiqued by the footy analysts post game, learn from this and move on.

And also - this ain’t the first time that Kenny has done bugger all in the box. A common complaint among Port fans is that he’s tactically inept and does very little to make changes in a game. To me he’s always looked like rugby coaches, who just sit there during a game and don’t swing changes from the bench like AFL coaches do

There’s no doubt there’s a lack of on field leadership at Port, has been for years, even when Boak was captain

I still go back to the 5Cs that you need to be successful as a club, and Port are struggling with most or all of them

Chairman - Koch shouldn’t have extended Ken
CEO - Richardson was next in line, not best available
Coaches - Hinkley, Montgomery and Chad. Hardly inspiring
Captain - Jonas. On the way out as a player, hardly inspirational as a skipper
Cattle - too many now 30+, key players injured, kids development stalled, plenty of mediocre players (I know, us too..)

But they won’t make changes until they get players back from injury as until then they’ll still think they can make the finals

Go Dees!

 

[Bay62]

I wonder if the idiot thought that Murphy was going to take the kick and hence was laughing the entire time, then to his horror one of the best kicks in the AFL instead was having a shot at goal?

Murphy does not kick that goal almost 99/100 times.

Murphy’s actually a more accurate long range kick than he is up close - but yeah I wouldn’t have trusted him with it

 

[GROTTO]

And also - this ain’t the first time that Kenny has done bugger all in the box. A common complaint among Port fans is that he’s tactically inept and does very little to make changes in a game. To me he’s always looked like rugby coaches, who just sit there during a game and don’t swing changes from the bench like AFL coaches do

There’s no doubt there’s a lack of on field leadership at Port, has been for years, even when Boak was captain

I still go back to the 5Cs that you need to be successful as a club, and Port are struggling with most or all of them

Chairman - Koch shouldn’t have extended Ken
CEO - Richardson was next in line, not best available
Coaches - Hinkley, Montgomery and Chad. Hardly inspiring
Captain - Jonas. On the way out as a player, hardly inspirational as a skipper
Cattle - too many now 30+, key players injured, kids development stalled, plenty of mediocre players (I know, is too..)

But they won’t make changes until they get players back from injury as until then they’ll still think they can make the finals

Go Dees!

Lets not forget, he has now lost 3 games after the siren in the last few years. I dont know his record in close games, but it would be very interesting to critique that.

Port will think they can still make the finals, in two weeks time, reality will set in when they are 0-5.

 

[GROTTO]

Murphy’s actually a more accurate long range kick than he is up close - but yeah I wouldn’t have trusted him with it

When I saw Murphy having the free, I was dejected, but I saw that sneaky Rachele hold the ball almost the entire time and our trainer tell Murphy "You stay the f**k down and dont get up" lol. (who knows ? lol)

But I was so optimistic when Dawson had it.

Then so sad when I saw its trajectory..... that is until the last possible moment, it turned.

 

[FR0GGY]

Don't forget when Dawson was kicking it, Hinkley was downstairs on the bench and not in the coaches box. I'm not sure at what point he went down, as I'm sure within the last 2 minutes there was footage of him upstairs.

Given I couldn't tear myself away though I was bursting for a piss, how can a head coach find time in those last 2 minutes to walk downstairs and to the bench with the game in the balance?

I fully expect the answer is he thought the game was won and went down for the celebrations.

No way it takes 2 minutes, I reckon he went down whilst Murphy was in the hands of the doctors, was a couple of minutes there I reckon.

 

[DaKids]

Game, Set and Match.

Revealed: Three moments that prove epic Showdown was ‘lost in the coaches box’​

Revealed: Three moments that prove epic Showdown was ‘lost in the coaches box’

Revealed: Three moments that prove epic Showdown was ‘lost in the coaches box’

www.foxsports.com.au

Well it’s a bit of an odd article in truth. First they blame the coach for not putting a loose man in defence. Second they blame Wines. And third they blame the coach for not putting a loose man in defence. Same as first.

So yes that could be argued as a coach error. Just one opinion though. Next week you’ll think King is a goose if you disagree with him.

The thing to remember is our game is unique - incredibly dynamic, no time outs, no stop play for a fake injury etc. a coach can only prepare leaders to organise in a particular situation. If it’s a coaching failure then that’s Thursday night preparation- not 30 seconds to go in a game

 

[GROTTO]

No way it takes 2 minutes, I reckon he went down whilst Murphy was in the hands of the doctors, was a couple of minutes there I reckon.

Definitely. I cant recall, but if I timed it, it took like almost 3 minutes from the time the free was given till Dawson kicked it.