Opinion Where has the club gone wrong?

[5um0F1]

I did not renew my 11 game membership after over 40 years of supporting the PAFC, so did my mate also a 40+ year member.
We got a 3 gamer so at least I can catch up with some buddies a few times this year.
If there seems a good worthwhile game we can always get tickets at the gate.

I have been worn down (again) and last year's collapse was the final straw. I got sick of leaving games angry and stressed.
Even if we won it felt like a loss.

I don't like appreciate being told I'm not a "loyal" supporter because I don't keep pissing money and weekends away when my club is clearly heading down s**t creek with no captain and no rudder and as i see it no chance of change anytime soon.
40+ years of paying and attending games is not a snowflake, armchair supporter.

I *will* get my full membership again but only after I see changes at my club, underachieving, stubborn, arrogant, lazy losers booted out, a game plan that is robust, brave and exciting - even if we lose at the end of the day I *need* to know we have tried.

(I guess Richo would not like to hear all that though, and I'm not on twitter)

 

[Black 18]

All this needs to stop and stop soon before we actually harm ourselves to a point that will take far too long to recover from - if it hasn't reached that point already.

I understand - and every Port supporter I know does as well - that it is extremely difficult for us to compete in certain areas of the AFL with the bigger Clubs. Memberships, sponsorship, prime-time games etc and that all adds up to dollars that flow on to all areas of our Football Department and more. I get that, it's a given. However, we still get the same number of players that can take the field every game, the same number of players on a list, the same number of coaches and even being down the list of footballing revenue we still can afford to get people of excellent credentials in the areas required to be a successful Club. Medical, Nutrition, Well-being, Scouting, Talent Identification etc.

We have come from an extremely successful era - SANFL - and now find ourselves in a higher standard competition where the success and possible riches may be harder to obtain, but that should never be seen as a peak to far away to climb. It should be seen as a challenge we continually strive for.

The very essence of what made Port Adelaide so great wasn't just the success but the endeavors to continually climb and take on whatever obstacle was put in front of us. We were real, we were honest, and obstacles, disappointments, hard times, only made us stronger and better.

The Creed underpinned everything about what we were, and what we should be.

Excuses were never an option for failure. We would understand why and then put in place decisions to prevent that from happening again. Continually striving to be the best even though we couldn't always be the best never ever stopped us before and nor should it now.

Nobody has given this current Administration a mandate to make changes to our soul, our fabric, our DNA, yet they are. That is inexcusable to me.

I, like every Port supporter I know, will stand behind you every single time if you're striving to be what we aspire to be. I can not stand behind you in any form with what you are now attempting to make us become.

I can not tolerate weak excuses, the constant spin, the changing of what actually made this Club great to protect a few who obviously find it all a little too hard. That stands for everyone involved - Administration, Coaching & especially the players who should be honoured to represent this Club and fully understand the absolute minimum expected every single time they take the field.

On this Administrations watch those standards that made us who we were have been allowed to fall below acceptable levels. Instead of addressing this we now get those in charge almost trying to get us comfortable with this being what it's going to be now. Forget the past, forget what we are about, we will tell you what's now acceptable and you should be grateful.

That has never been Port Adelaide, and never should be.

You try your best, you honour the Creed, you have my unconditional support.

You say it's all too hard, we don't want to upset anyone, or hurt someones feelings, we should be willingly submissive to others who want it more than we do then you're pushing me further away than I have ever been because you are not who I thought you were - and that hurts.

I've been watching Port since 1974 and I have never felt this way before.

The Creed is what it is for a reason. It's a set of guiding principles that should actually make it easier for any Administration to follow, read it and live by it. The principles of yesterday still have a place in today's society. Especially in competitive sport.

Let us believe and follow, and we will in our thousands. Do that by actions, not by spin. Let the people make up their own minds, stop telling them what they should feel.

STOP trying to change who we are and what we expect. You have no right to try and change that.

 

[bomberclifford]

It is hypocritical for Matthew Richardson to say that the club takes no notice of member and supporter opinions expressed in online polls when making decisions but is then on Twitter asking ex-members their opinions.

I'm more concerned that they still see Twitter as a viable representation of their audience/market.

It's polarised and extreme; very easy to ignore the negative and equally so to get seduced by the positive.
Neither are what our club needs right now.

Now, we supposedly have a social media expert on our board.
Isn't she meant to be 'in touch' with this medium? BigFooty is social media.
Why doesn't the club interact here, with an official account or two?
(unlike anonymous shills, a tactic I would absolutely expect her to engage in)

Old school discussion forums don't provide easy KPIs to impress her seniors I guess.
Hard to pull the wool over Kochie's eyes when there's no sheep around.

 

[TeeKray]

All this needs to stop and stop soon before we actually harm ourselves to a point that will take far too long to recover from - if it hasn't reached that point already.

I understand - and every Port supporter I know does as well - that it is extremely difficult for us to compete in certain areas of the AFL with the bigger Clubs. Memberships, sponsorship, prime-time games etc and that all adds up to dollars that flow on to all areas of our Football Department and more. I get that, it's a given. However, we still get the same number of players that can take the field every game, the same number of players on a list, the same number of coaches and even being down the list of footballing revenue we still can afford to get people of excellent credentials in the areas required to be a successful Club. Medical, Nutrition, Well-being, Scouting, Talent Identification etc.

We have come from an extremely successful era - SANFL - and now find ourselves in a higher standard competition where the success and possible riches may be harder to obtain, but that should never be seen as a peak to far away to climb. It should be seen as a challenge we continually strive for.

The very essence of what made Port Adelaide so great wasn't just the success but the endeavors to continually climb and take on whatever obstacle was put in front of us. We were real, we were honest, and obstacles, disappointments, hard times, only made us stronger and better.

The Creed underpinned everything about what we were, and what we should be.

Excuses were never an option for failure. We would understand why and then put in place decisions to prevent that from happening again. Continually striving to be the best even though we couldn't always be the best never ever stopped us before and nor should it now.

Nobody has given this current Administration a mandate to make changes to our soul, our fabric, our DNA, yet they are. That is inexcusable to me.

I, like every Port supporter I know, will stand behind you every single time if you're striving to be what we aspire to be. I can not stand behind you in any form with what you are now attempting to make us become.

I can not tolerate weak excuses, the constant spin, the changing of what actually made this Club great to protect a few who obviously find it all a little too hard. That stands for everyone involved - Administration, Coaching & especially the players who should be honoured to represent this Club and fully understand the absolute minimum expected every single time they take the field.

On this Administrations watch those standards that made us who we were have been allowed to fall below acceptable levels. Instead of addressing this we now get those in charge almost trying to get us comfortable with this being what it's going to be now. Forget the past, forget what we are about, we will tell you what's now acceptable and you should be grateful.

That has never been Port Adelaide, and never should be.

You try your best, you honour the Creed, you have my unconditional support.

You say it's all too hard, we don't want to upset anyone, or hurt someones feelings, we should be willingly submissive to others who want it more than we do then you're pushing me further away than I have ever been because you are not who I thought you were - and that hurts.

I've been watching Port since 1974 and I have never felt this way before.

The Creed is what it is for a reason. It's a set of guiding principles that should actually make it easier for any Administration to follow, read it and live by it. The principles of yesterday still have a place in today's society. Especially in competitive sport.

Let us believe and follow, and we will in our thousands. Do that by actions, not by spin. Let the people make up their own minds, stop telling them what they should feel.

STOP trying to change who we are and what we expect. You have no right to try and change that.

When Ken was first appointed, a lot was made about how he was the first non Port Adelaide person to coach the club. I never thought I'd say this, but I wonder if it's not time to go back to appointing successful Port Adelaide people to key posts within the football club. Not breakfast TV hosts, Norwood champions, ex state cricketers and back pocket scrubbers from Geelong - Port Adelaide premiership footballers.

 

[GremioPower]

Not sure what thread it was in, but someone asked how we go as favourites

Since 2015, this is the ladder when being a favourite

St Kilda (14 from 18) 78%
GWS (49 from 63) 78%
North Melbourne (30 from 39) 77%
Richmond (46 from 60) 77%
West Coast (48 from 65) 74%
Adelaide (47 from 65) 72%
Bulldogs (31 from 43) 72%
Fremantle (29 from 41) 71%
Geelong (44 from 63) 70%
Hawthorn (45 from 65) 69%
Sydney (48 from 72) 67%
Port Adelaide (36 from 59) 61%
Essendon (13 from 22) 59%
Collingwood (26 from 44) 59%
Melbourne (25 from 43) 58%
Brisbane (5 from 9) 56%
Gold Coast (9 from 17) 53%
Carlton (4 from 10) 40%

Not that great.

When a team is $1.50 or better favourite

Brisbane (2 from 2) 100%
St Kilda (11 from 12) 92%
Richmond (38 from 42) 90%
North Melbourne (21 from 24) 88%
GWS (39 from 46) 85%
West Coast (36 from 44) 82%
Adelaide (40 from 50) 80%
Fremantle (22 from 28) 79%
Hawthorn (37 from 49) 76%
Bulldogs (24 from 33) 73%
Geelong (31 from 43) 72%
Sydney (40 from 56) 71%
Port Adelaide (32 from 45) 71%
Collingwood (18 from 26) 69%
Essendon (11 from 17) 65%
Melbourne (17 from 28) 61%
Carlton (3 from 7) 43%
Gold Coast (4 from 11) 36%

We exist to make betting companies money!

And if you take that data, you can tell why the Port supporter is so sick of it.

Failures to win when firm favourite

Sydney 16
Port Adelaide 13
Geelong 12
Hawthorn 12
Melbourne 11
Adelaide 10
Bulldogs 9
Collingwood 8
West Coast 8
Gold Coast 7
GWS 7
Essendon 6
Fremantle 6
Richmond 4
Carlton 4
North Melbourne 3
St Kilda 1
Brisbane 0

Do you know which club has lost the most Grand Finals in SANFL's history?

 

[chiwigi]

View attachment 655400


Spot fires happening tonight

I’ve just seen this and it’s surely a piss take.
The club always acts like they know best.
No you ******* don’t. Not when it comes to our traditions and culture, stop patronising us. These are the things we members should have the final say on at all times.

 

[Black 18]

When Ken was first appointed, a lot was made about how he was the first non Port Adelaide person to coach the club. I never thought I'd say this, but I wonder if it's not time to go back to appointing successful Port Adelaide people to key posts within the football club. Not breakfast TV hosts, Norwood champions, ex state cricketers and back pocket scrubbers from Geelong - Port Adelaide premiership footballers.

Yeah, I've thought similar too.

It shouldn't need to be that way though. It was a touch alarming when George Fiacchi left the Board and reading between the lines wasn't that happy/content with the direction coming from the Board or the Footballing Department.

If anyone wanted a lesson on the values required on the football side of things you wouldn't have had to stray that far from George.

 

[El_Scorcho]

I did get a response from Matthew Richardson which stated he was appreciative of the feedback, and went through a few of the points I made, so it wasn't just a copy paste.

He made a note of telling me to get back to him with further feedback with regards to the engagement with members and also the sort of language the club is using as the season goes on, which is a good start.

The club always acts like they know best.
No you ******* don’t. Not when it comes to our traditions and culture, stop patronising us. These are the things we members should have the final say on at all times.

Nail on the head, and I said that in my email. The club act like they know best, which wears pretty thin when we've been disappointing for years on end.

 

[Papa G]

Do you know which club has lost the most Grand Finals in SANFL's history?

Us

 

[Duck Farmer]

Us

Ya gotta be in'em to win'em.

 

[GremioPower]

Ya gotta be in'em to win'em.

Precisely.

 

[Doctor Feel]

Hi Richo,

First of all thanks for taking in the opinions of the fans regarding why people haven't renewed this year. I feel like you've already been made well aware of the reasons people are feeling so disillusioned but i'll throw in my opinion as well. Starting with some background.

I've been a member for 15 years, first signing up as a teenager when I had my own money to play with and I attended every game even in the dark 2011-2012 era, and you know what? It was great fun. The reason being is we knew we were terrible and it was folly to think otherwise. We were severely under resourced, the list was in poor shape and we were playing out of a concrete bowl in a desolate AAMI Stadium. I'm now a black diamond member and have been since the move to AO. There is only one reason I renewed both our BD memberships this year, and that is to keep my seat dead centre wing of the centre tier. There is no other reason. I am fortunate enough to be able to throw money away for something I may not use a lot right now, but others aren't so fortunate and will readily reallocate their money to other endeavours that actually bring them joy. A completely understandable position to take.

Fast forward to 2019 and the situation is different. We are well resourced, we have a great stadium (Aside from the SMA, who i'll touch on later), we've built a reasonable list we know is capable and the excuses for our poor performances are not there like they were in 2011-2012. I have now attended one of two home games this year, missing the Richmond one simply because I felt like it was going to be a chore, and that I already knew what the result would be before the ball was even bounced. Senior players out for the opposition? Check. They have a undermanned and short defence that we don't exploit with our selections? Check. We went in unchanged after several players put in absolutely droppable (some even don't come Monday) performances? Check.

Our supporters aren't dumb. We've seen it happen many times before. We even have a term among supporter groups for it. We call it a "What Happen Power?". It's the game everyone knows we'll lose despite being favourite to win it, and we'll undoubtably lose it in comical circumstances. Our current plight is a meme among Port supporters. That's right. We're a joke. So it's no surprise that yet again, when our perceptions get proven reality for the millionth time - people lash out at the club, the coaches and the players. So what leads to this animosity between supporter and club? I have boiled this down into six distilled points.

1) The Co-Captaincy Situation. I don't think i've ever felt more distant from my club. This was an issue many supporters would plant their flag and fight to the death on. What sets us apart from any other team in the competition, or the team across the road for that matter? The fact we have (or at least, did have) traditions that bound us, made us unique, made the role of captain a sacred office held by only the greatest and most esteemed players of our once mighty football club. The support base was clearly and unrelentingly against the idea of co-captains, no matter what the messaging or the reasoning from the club may have been. The ruling was clear. We would not sacrifice what we deemed as part of our soul, for a decision that was to be made by an administration that had completely lost the faith of the members. There was, and still is - no way that this decision will ever fly, and I felt immense disappointment and anger when the decision was made. It's changed my perception of the club forever. There is no justification for this decision. None. Even if you felt it would help us win games (which of course there is literally no way of determining that would ever be the case, to say otherwise is guesswork). We don't trade who we are for that under any circumstances. Additionally, in the wake of this decision - Tom Jonas (and others from the club) stirred the supporters on Twitter about the decision and effectively told us to get over it. This turned supporter against player, supporter against co-captain. An irreversible process.

2) Changing Our Motto. Since the dawn of time our ethos, the one thing central to the existence of this football club has always been "we exist to win premierships". When the administration at large decided they would change this, and tack on (Yes - tack on, let's not give it any more respect than that). the term "and make our community proud". Changing this fundamental and resolute motto without consulting the membership was quite frankly disgusting. Another shocking chapter in ignoring the fans, failing to consult them and simply paving your own way. Slowly but surely ebbing away what made Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide. We understand that the community arm of the club is important, but that is what we have Power Community LTD for. Our football arm needs to be solely and wholly focused on premierships and to change that focus, even so slightly as adding words to our motto was perceived as taking the eye off the ball and yet again, fiddling with our soul at the behest of apparent commercial or political gain.

3) The Chairman. David Koch has used and continues to use language to our members that is completely unbecoming of a leader. Language that talks down to us, infers that we don't know better than he does and quite frankly insults our intelligence. His messaging over the co-captaincy situation was an effective example of this. He can construe his points, but he needs to choose his words more carefully. His perceived arrogance has turned large portions of the support base against him, and I suspect it will get to a boiling point within the next 12 months. Furthermore, continually referring to our club as "little" and "working class" and a "battler" makes a mockery of the lion heart that beats inside this club, somewhere. Buried. We are not little. We are one of the biggest clubs in Australia and we damn well need to act like it.

4) On Field Results & The Hinkley Extension. This is the big one. Ken Hinkley has been at the helm for a long, long time. He's built a list, he's bought in recruits and yet we play the most predictable, insipid football i've ever had the displeasure of watching. We have immense talent on this list and yet time and time again we continue to lose games in which we are strong favourites, and worse - in the exact same ways. We always fail to exploit opposition structures, and also hamper our own performances with poor selection. Our penchant for a small forward line has never worked, and will never work. I can't believe we continue to try it. Ken has failed to adjust to all the close losses, and we've also got a savage record of being blown out of the water by Essendon, inexplicably. We've had so much change through the club and yet he remains the single constant. Supporters have seen enough, and crowds are now going to turn their backs on the club. He is a dead man walking and the rage is building to the point that supporters are so angry with Ken that they don't listen to a word he says in press-conferences or otherwise. The things he does say just fan the flames of exactly why we want him gone.

Extending him at the end of 2017 was a bad decision then, and it's even worse now. He was immensely unpopular at the end of 2017, and 2018 only served to enhance that unpopularity. To miss finals from 11-4 is unforgivable and continues the make the club a punch line for football jokes. There is no excuse in the world that excuses missing finals from 11-4. None. That alone was a sackable offence as far as the membership was concerned. We have run absolute legends of the club out of town for far less. If a decision isn't made on Hinkley soon, the backlash will turn into something the club has never faced before. The AGM will be a complete circus and attendances will drop right off.

5) The SMA. I know personally that I and many others are not spending a single cent inside the stadium until we have a position on the SMA board they have taken both AFL clubs for a ride for too long. We as supporters don't care if this reduces the revenue for the club, as we are making our point in any way we possibly can. This relationship has to change and both AFL clubs must get their fair due. The debacle with the amazing Game Day Village is a monument to the disappointment fans feel about this. The fact the SMA muscled in on our enjoyment was a point of no return.

6) The Prison Bars. Bring them back. Enough said.

Happy to have a chat on the phone or in person about any of the above.

Kind Regards,

Penisface

 

[Kiss from a Rozee]

Lol Koch is going to be the self destructive atomic bomb. It's easy to pick.

He’ll sack literally everyone else.

 

[Sewer de Lance]

I think the Thread Title needs to change to "I've lost my faith in the PAFC".

 

[Duck Farmer]

Hi Richo,

First of all thanks for taking in the opinions of the fans regarding why people haven't renewed this year. I feel like you've already been made well aware of the reasons people are feeling so disillusioned but i'll throw in my opinion as well. Starting with some background.

I've been a member for 15 years, first signing up as a teenager when I had my own money to play with and I attended every game even in the dark 2011-2012 era, and you know what? It was great fun. The reason being is we knew we were terrible and it was folly to think otherwise. We were severely under resourced, the list was in poor shape and we were playing out of a concrete bowl in a desolate AAMI Stadium. I'm now a black diamond member and have been since the move to AO. There is only one reason I renewed both our BD memberships this year, and that is to keep my seat dead centre wing of the centre tier. There is no other reason. I am fortunate enough to be able to throw money away for something I may not use a lot right now, but others aren't so fortunate and will readily reallocate their money to other endeavours that actually bring them joy. A completely understandable position to take.

Fast forward to 2019 and the situation is different. We are well resourced, we have a great stadium (Aside from the SMA, who i'll touch on later), we've built a reasonable list we know is capable and the excuses for our poor performances are not there like they were in 2011-2012. I have now attended one of two home games this year, missing the Richmond one simply because I felt like it was going to be a chore, and that I already knew what the result would be before the ball was even bounced. Senior players out for the opposition? Check. They have a undermanned and short defence that we don't exploit with our selections? Check. We went in unchanged after several players put in absolutely droppable (some even don't come Monday) performances? Check.

Our supporters aren't dumb. We've seen it happen many times before. We even have a term among supporter groups for it. We call it a "What Happen Power?". It's the game everyone knows we'll lose despite being favourite to win it, and we'll undoubtably lose it in comical circumstances. Our current plight is a meme among Port supporters. That's right. We're a joke. So it's no surprise that yet again, when our perceptions get proven reality for the millionth time - people lash out at the club, the coaches and the players. So what leads to this animosity between supporter and club? I have boiled this down into six distilled points.

1) The Co-Captaincy Situation. I don't think i've ever felt more distant from my club. This was an issue many supporters would plant their flag and fight to the death on. What sets us apart from any other team in the competition, or the team across the road for that matter? The fact we have (or at least, did have) traditions that bound us, made us unique, made the role of captain a sacred office held by only the greatest and most esteemed players of our once mighty football club. The support base was clearly and unrelentingly against the idea of co-captains, no matter what the messaging or the reasoning from the club may have been. The ruling was clear. We would not sacrifice what we deemed as part of our soul, for a decision that was to be made by an administration that had completely lost the faith of the members. There was, and still is - no way that this decision will ever fly, and I felt immense disappointment and anger when the decision was made. It's changed my perception of the club forever. There is no justification for this decision. None. Even if you felt it would help us win games (which of course there is literally no way of determining that would ever be the case, to say otherwise is guesswork). We don't trade who we are for that under any circumstances. Additionally, in the wake of this decision - Tom Jonas (and others from the club) stirred the supporters on Twitter about the decision and effectively told us to get over it. This turned supporter against player, supporter against co-captain. An irreversible process.

2) Changing Our Motto. Since the dawn of time our ethos, the one thing central to the existence of this football club has always been "we exist to win premierships". When the administration at large decided they would change this, and tack on (Yes - tack on, let's not give it any more respect than that). the term "and make our community proud". Changing this fundamental and resolute motto without consulting the membership was quite frankly disgusting. Another shocking chapter in ignoring the fans, failing to consult them and simply paving your own way. Slowly but surely ebbing away what made Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide. We understand that the community arm of the club is important, but that is what we have Power Community LTD for. Our football arm needs to be solely and wholly focused on premierships and to change that focus, even so slightly as adding words to our motto was perceived as taking the eye off the ball and yet again, fiddling with our soul at the behest of apparent commercial or political gain.

3) The Chairman. David Koch has used and continues to use language to our members that is completely unbecoming of a leader. Language that talks down to us, infers that we don't know better than he does and quite frankly insults our intelligence. His messaging over the co-captaincy situation was an effective example of this. He can construe his points, but he needs to choose his words more carefully. His perceived arrogance has turned large portions of the support base against him, and I suspect it will get to a boiling point within the next 12 months. Furthermore, continually referring to our club as "little" and "working class" and a "battler" makes a mockery of the lion heart that beats inside this club, somewhere. Buried. We are not little. We are one of the biggest clubs in Australia and we damn well need to act like it.

4) On Field Results & The Hinkley Extension. This is the big one. Ken Hinkley has been at the helm for a long, long time. He's built a list, he's bought in recruits and yet we play the most predictable, insipid football i've ever had the displeasure of watching. We have immense talent on this list and yet time and time again we continue to lose games in which we are strong favourites, and worse - in the exact same ways. We always fail to exploit opposition structures, and also hamper our own performances with poor selection. Our penchant for a small forward line has never worked, and will never work. I can't believe we continue to try it. Ken has failed to adjust to all the close losses, and we've also got a savage record of being blown out of the water by Essendon, inexplicably. We've had so much change through the club and yet he remains the single constant. Supporters have seen enough, and crowds are now going to turn their backs on the club. He is a dead man walking and the rage is building to the point that supporters are so angry with Ken that they don't listen to a word he says in press-conferences or otherwise. The things he does say just fan the flames of exactly why we want him gone.

Extending him at the end of 2017 was a bad decision then, and it's even worse now. He was immensely unpopular at the end of 2017, and 2018 only served to enhance that unpopularity. To miss finals from 11-4 is unforgivable and continues the make the club a punch line for football jokes. There is no excuse in the world that excuses missing finals from 11-4. None. That alone was a sackable offence as far as the membership was concerned. We have run absolute legends of the club out of town for far less. If a decision isn't made on Hinkley soon, the backlash will be turn into something the club has never faced before. The AGM will be a complete circus and attendances will drop right off.

5) The SMA. I know personally that I and many others are not spending a single cent inside the stadium until we have a position on the SMA board they have taken both AFL clubs for a ride for too long. We as supporters don't care if this reduces the revenue for the club, as we are making our point in any way we possibly can. This relationship has to change and both AFL clubs must get their fair due. The debacle with the amazing Game Day Village is a monument to the disappointment fans feel about this. The fact the SMA muscled in on our enjoyment was a point of no return.

6) The Prison Bars. Bring them back. Enough said.

Happy to have a chat on the phone or in person about any of the above.

Kind Regards,

Penisface

Dear Penisface,

thank you for your e-mail. We don't like the SMA either.

Yours etc.

 

[Doctor Feel]

Dear Penisface,

thank you for your e-mail. We don't like the SMA either.

Yours etc.

 

[Us against the rest]

I did get a response from Matthew Richardson which stated he was appreciative of the feedback, and went through a few of the points I made, so it wasn't just a copy paste.

He made a note of telling me to get back to him with further feedback with regards to the engagement with members and also the sort of language the club is using as the season goes on, which is a good start.



Nail on the head, and I said that in my email. The club act like they know best, which wears pretty thin when we've been disappointing for years on end.

Like, we want Ken to be a 10 year coach.
We want co-captains, even though the members don't.
Ken praising the opposition when we are supposed to be better.
Ken blaming the players and not taking responsibility him self.
We are are little club, not like the rest of the teams.
Finally, stop f...ing with our Traditions.

 

[chiwigi]

Hi Richo,

First of all thanks for taking in the opinions of the fans regarding why people haven't renewed this year. I feel like you've already been made well aware of the reasons people are feeling so disillusioned but i'll throw in my opinion as well. Starting with some background.

I've been a member for 15 years, first signing up as a teenager when I had my own money to play with and I attended every game even in the dark 2011-2012 era, and you know what? It was great fun. The reason being is we knew we were terrible and it was folly to think otherwise. We were severely under resourced, the list was in poor shape and we were playing out of a concrete bowl in a desolate AAMI Stadium. I'm now a black diamond member and have been since the move to AO. There is only one reason I renewed both our BD memberships this year, and that is to keep my seat dead centre wing of the centre tier. There is no other reason. I am fortunate enough to be able to throw money away for something I may not use a lot right now, but others aren't so fortunate and will readily reallocate their money to other endeavours that actually bring them joy. A completely understandable position to take.

Fast forward to 2019 and the situation is different. We are well resourced, we have a great stadium (Aside from the SMA, who i'll touch on later), we've built a reasonable list we know is capable and the excuses for our poor performances are not there like they were in 2011-2012. I have now attended one of two home games this year, missing the Richmond one simply because I felt like it was going to be a chore, and that I already knew what the result would be before the ball was even bounced. Senior players out for the opposition? Check. They have a undermanned and short defence that we don't exploit with our selections? Check. We went in unchanged after several players put in absolutely droppable (some even don't come Monday) performances? Check.

Our supporters aren't dumb. We've seen it happen many times before. We even have a term among supporter groups for it. We call it a "What Happen Power?". It's the game everyone knows we'll lose despite being favourite to win it, and we'll undoubtably lose it in comical circumstances. Our current plight is a meme among Port supporters. That's right. We're a joke. So it's no surprise that yet again, when our perceptions get proven reality for the millionth time - people lash out at the club, the coaches and the players. So what leads to this animosity between supporter and club? I have boiled this down into six distilled points.

1) The Co-Captaincy Situation. I don't think i've ever felt more distant from my club. This was an issue many supporters would plant their flag and fight to the death on. What sets us apart from any other team in the competition, or the team across the road for that matter? The fact we have (or at least, did have) traditions that bound us, made us unique, made the role of captain a sacred office held by only the greatest and most esteemed players of our once mighty football club. The support base was clearly and unrelentingly against the idea of co-captains, no matter what the messaging or the reasoning from the club may have been. The ruling was clear. We would not sacrifice what we deemed as part of our soul, for a decision that was to be made by an administration that had completely lost the faith of the members. There was, and still is - no way that this decision will ever fly, and I felt immense disappointment and anger when the decision was made. It's changed my perception of the club forever. There is no justification for this decision. None. Even if you felt it would help us win games (which of course there is literally no way of determining that would ever be the case, to say otherwise is guesswork). We don't trade who we are for that under any circumstances. Additionally, in the wake of this decision - Tom Jonas (and others from the club) stirred the supporters on Twitter about the decision and effectively told us to get over it. This turned supporter against player, supporter against co-captain. An irreversible process.

2) Changing Our Motto. Since the dawn of time our ethos, the one thing central to the existence of this football club has always been "we exist to win premierships". When the administration at large decided they would change this, and tack on (Yes - tack on, let's not give it any more respect than that). the term "and make our community proud". Changing this fundamental and resolute motto without consulting the membership was quite frankly disgusting. Another shocking chapter in ignoring the fans, failing to consult them and simply paving your own way. Slowly but surely ebbing away what made Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide. We understand that the community arm of the club is important, but that is what we have Power Community LTD for. Our football arm needs to be solely and wholly focused on premierships and to change that focus, even so slightly as adding words to our motto was perceived as taking the eye off the ball and yet again, fiddling with our soul at the behest of apparent commercial or political gain.

3) The Chairman. David Koch has used and continues to use language to our members that is completely unbecoming of a leader. Language that talks down to us, infers that we don't know better than he does and quite frankly insults our intelligence. His messaging over the co-captaincy situation was an effective example of this. He can construe his points, but he needs to choose his words more carefully. His perceived arrogance has turned large portions of the support base against him, and I suspect it will get to a boiling point within the next 12 months. Furthermore, continually referring to our club as "little" and "working class" and a "battler" makes a mockery of the lion heart that beats inside this club, somewhere. Buried. We are not little. We are one of the biggest clubs in Australia and we damn well need to act like it.

4) On Field Results & The Hinkley Extension. This is the big one. Ken Hinkley has been at the helm for a long, long time. He's built a list, he's bought in recruits and yet we play the most predictable, insipid football i've ever had the displeasure of watching. We have immense talent on this list and yet time and time again we continue to lose games in which we are strong favourites, and worse - in the exact same ways. We always fail to exploit opposition structures, and also hamper our own performances with poor selection. Our penchant for a small forward line has never worked, and will never work. I can't believe we continue to try it. Ken has failed to adjust to all the close losses, and we've also got a savage record of being blown out of the water by Essendon, inexplicably. We've had so much change through the club and yet he remains the single constant. Supporters have seen enough, and crowds are now going to turn their backs on the club. He is a dead man walking and the rage is building to the point that supporters are so angry with Ken that they don't listen to a word he says in press-conferences or otherwise. The things he does say just fan the flames of exactly why we want him gone.

Extending him at the end of 2017 was a bad decision then, and it's even worse now. He was immensely unpopular at the end of 2017, and 2018 only served to enhance that unpopularity. To miss finals from 11-4 is unforgivable and continues the make the club a punch line for football jokes. There is no excuse in the world that excuses missing finals from 11-4. None. That alone was a sackable offence as far as the membership was concerned. We have run absolute legends of the club out of town for far less. If a decision isn't made on Hinkley soon, the backlash will be turn into something the club has never faced before. The AGM will be a complete circus and attendances will drop right off.

5) The SMA. I know personally that I and many others are not spending a single cent inside the stadium until we have a position on the SMA board they have taken both AFL clubs for a ride for too long. We as supporters don't care if this reduces the revenue for the club, as we are making our point in any way we possibly can. This relationship has to change and both AFL clubs must get their fair due. The debacle with the amazing Game Day Village is a monument to the disappointment fans feel about this. The fact the SMA muscled in on our enjoyment was a point of no return.

6) The Prison Bars. Bring them back. Enough said.

Happy to have a chat on the phone or in person about any of the above.

Kind Regards,

Penisface

They really messed up on the co captains thing.
They especially messed up as they HAD the feedback telling them to just NOT.

 

[Papa G]

Dear Penisface.

TLDR.

Seeya at the footy!

Richo

 

[manureid]

We want your feedback, here, do a survey. Actually, we dont want your feedback, because who makes decisions based on feedback, but please, we want your feedback.

 

[rumoursofwinter]

Darling fascist bully boy. Give us some more money you bastard.

 

[dirty2]

Hi Richo,

First of all thanks for taking in the opinions of the fans regarding why people haven't renewed this year. I feel like you've already been made well aware of the reasons people are feeling so disillusioned but i'll throw in my opinion as well. Starting with some background.

I've been a member for 15 years, first signing up as a teenager when I had my own money to play with and I attended every game even in the dark 2011-2012 era, and you know what? It was great fun. The reason being is we knew we were terrible and it was folly to think otherwise. We were severely under resourced, the list was in poor shape and we were playing out of a concrete bowl in a desolate AAMI Stadium. I'm now a black diamond member and have been since the move to AO. There is only one reason I renewed both our BD memberships this year, and that is to keep my seat dead centre wing of the centre tier. There is no other reason. I am fortunate enough to be able to throw money away for something I may not use a lot right now, but others aren't so fortunate and will readily reallocate their money to other endeavours that actually bring them joy. A completely understandable position to take.

Fast forward to 2019 and the situation is different. We are well resourced, we have a great stadium (Aside from the SMA, who i'll touch on later), we've built a reasonable list we know is capable and the excuses for our poor performances are not there like they were in 2011-2012. I have now attended one of two home games this year, missing the Richmond one simply because I felt like it was going to be a chore, and that I already knew what the result would be before the ball was even bounced. Senior players out for the opposition? Check. They have a undermanned and short defence that we don't exploit with our selections? Check. We went in unchanged after several players put in absolutely droppable (some even don't come Monday) performances? Check.

Our supporters aren't dumb. We've seen it happen many times before. We even have a term among supporter groups for it. We call it a "What Happen Power?". It's the game everyone knows we'll lose despite being favourite to win it, and we'll undoubtably lose it in comical circumstances. Our current plight is a meme among Port supporters. That's right. We're a joke. So it's no surprise that yet again, when our perceptions get proven reality for the millionth time - people lash out at the club, the coaches and the players. So what leads to this animosity between supporter and club? I have boiled this down into six distilled points.

1) The Co-Captaincy Situation. I don't think i've ever felt more distant from my club. This was an issue many supporters would plant their flag and fight to the death on. What sets us apart from any other team in the competition, or the team across the road for that matter? The fact we have (or at least, did have) traditions that bound us, made us unique, made the role of captain a sacred office held by only the greatest and most esteemed players of our once mighty football club. The support base was clearly and unrelentingly against the idea of co-captains, no matter what the messaging or the reasoning from the club may have been. The ruling was clear. We would not sacrifice what we deemed as part of our soul, for a decision that was to be made by an administration that had completely lost the faith of the members. There was, and still is - no way that this decision will ever fly, and I felt immense disappointment and anger when the decision was made. It's changed my perception of the club forever. There is no justification for this decision. None. Even if you felt it would help us win games (which of course there is literally no way of determining that would ever be the case, to say otherwise is guesswork). We don't trade who we are for that under any circumstances. Additionally, in the wake of this decision - Tom Jonas (and others from the club) stirred the supporters on Twitter about the decision and effectively told us to get over it. This turned supporter against player, supporter against co-captain. An irreversible process.

2) Changing Our Motto. Since the dawn of time our ethos, the one thing central to the existence of this football club has always been "we exist to win premierships". When the administration at large decided they would change this, and tack on (Yes - tack on, let's not give it any more respect than that). the term "and make our community proud". Changing this fundamental and resolute motto without consulting the membership was quite frankly disgusting. Another shocking chapter in ignoring the fans, failing to consult them and simply paving your own way. Slowly but surely ebbing away what made Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide. We understand that the community arm of the club is important, but that is what we have Power Community LTD for. Our football arm needs to be solely and wholly focused on premierships and to change that focus, even so slightly as adding words to our motto was perceived as taking the eye off the ball and yet again, fiddling with our soul at the behest of apparent commercial or political gain.

3) The Chairman. David Koch has used and continues to use language to our members that is completely unbecoming of a leader. Language that talks down to us, infers that we don't know better than he does and quite frankly insults our intelligence. His messaging over the co-captaincy situation was an effective example of this. He can construe his points, but he needs to choose his words more carefully. His perceived arrogance has turned large portions of the support base against him, and I suspect it will get to a boiling point within the next 12 months. Furthermore, continually referring to our club as "little" and "working class" and a "battler" makes a mockery of the lion heart that beats inside this club, somewhere. Buried. We are not little. We are one of the biggest clubs in Australia and we damn well need to act like it.

4) On Field Results & The Hinkley Extension. This is the big one. Ken Hinkley has been at the helm for a long, long time. He's built a list, he's bought in recruits and yet we play the most predictable, insipid football i've ever had the displeasure of watching. We have immense talent on this list and yet time and time again we continue to lose games in which we are strong favourites, and worse - in the exact same ways. We always fail to exploit opposition structures, and also hamper our own performances with poor selection. Our penchant for a small forward line has never worked, and will never work. I can't believe we continue to try it. Ken has failed to adjust to all the close losses, and we've also got a savage record of being blown out of the water by Essendon, inexplicably. We've had so much change through the club and yet he remains the single constant. Supporters have seen enough, and crowds are now going to turn their backs on the club. He is a dead man walking and the rage is building to the point that supporters are so angry with Ken that they don't listen to a word he says in press-conferences or otherwise. The things he does say just fan the flames of exactly why we want him gone.

Extending him at the end of 2017 was a bad decision then, and it's even worse now. He was immensely unpopular at the end of 2017, and 2018 only served to enhance that unpopularity. To miss finals from 11-4 is unforgivable and continues the make the club a punch line for football jokes. There is no excuse in the world that excuses missing finals from 11-4. None. That alone was a sackable offence as far as the membership was concerned. We have run absolute legends of the club out of town for far less. If a decision isn't made on Hinkley soon, the backlash will be turn into something the club has never faced before. The AGM will be a complete circus and attendances will drop right off.

5) The SMA. I know personally that I and many others are not spending a single cent inside the stadium until we have a position on the SMA board they have taken both AFL clubs for a ride for too long. We as supporters don't care if this reduces the revenue for the club, as we are making our point in any way we possibly can. This relationship has to change and both AFL clubs must get their fair due. The debacle with the amazing Game Day Village is a monument to the disappointment fans feel about this. The fact the SMA muscled in on our enjoyment was a point of no return.

6) The Prison Bars. Bring them back. Enough said.

Happy to have a chat on the phone or in person about any of the above.

Kind Regards,

Penisface

100% this..

 

[Us against the rest]

Hi Richo,

First of all thanks for taking in the opinions of the fans regarding why people haven't renewed this year. I feel like you've already been made well aware of the reasons people are feeling so disillusioned but i'll throw in my opinion as well. Starting with some background.

I've been a member for 15 years, first signing up as a teenager when I had my own money to play with and I attended every game even in the dark 2011-2012 era, and you know what? It was great fun. The reason being is we knew we were terrible and it was folly to think otherwise. We were severely under resourced, the list was in poor shape and we were playing out of a concrete bowl in a desolate AAMI Stadium. I'm now a black diamond member and have been since the move to AO. There is only one reason I renewed both our BD memberships this year, and that is to keep my seat dead centre wing of the centre tier. There is no other reason. I am fortunate enough to be able to throw money away for something I may not use a lot right now, but others aren't so fortunate and will readily reallocate their money to other endeavours that actually bring them joy. A completely understandable position to take.

Fast forward to 2019 and the situation is different. We are well resourced, we have a great stadium (Aside from the SMA, who i'll touch on later), we've built a reasonable list we know is capable and the excuses for our poor performances are not there like they were in 2011-2012. I have now attended one of two home games this year, missing the Richmond one simply because I felt like it was going to be a chore, and that I already knew what the result would be before the ball was even bounced. Senior players out for the opposition? Check. They have a undermanned and short defence that we don't exploit with our selections? Check. We went in unchanged after several players put in absolutely droppable (some even don't come Monday) performances? Check.

Our supporters aren't dumb. We've seen it happen many times before. We even have a term among supporter groups for it. We call it a "What Happen Power?". It's the game everyone knows we'll lose despite being favourite to win it, and we'll undoubtably lose it in comical circumstances. Our current plight is a meme among Port supporters. That's right. We're a joke. So it's no surprise that yet again, when our perceptions get proven reality for the millionth time - people lash out at the club, the coaches and the players. So what leads to this animosity between supporter and club? I have boiled this down into six distilled points.

1) The Co-Captaincy Situation. I don't think i've ever felt more distant from my club. This was an issue many supporters would plant their flag and fight to the death on. What sets us apart from any other team in the competition, or the team across the road for that matter? The fact we have (or at least, did have) traditions that bound us, made us unique, made the role of captain a sacred office held by only the greatest and most esteemed players of our once mighty football club. The support base was clearly and unrelentingly against the idea of co-captains, no matter what the messaging or the reasoning from the club may have been. The ruling was clear. We would not sacrifice what we deemed as part of our soul, for a decision that was to be made by an administration that had completely lost the faith of the members. There was, and still is - no way that this decision will ever fly, and I felt immense disappointment and anger when the decision was made. It's changed my perception of the club forever. There is no justification for this decision. None. Even if you felt it would help us win games (which of course there is literally no way of determining that would ever be the case, to say otherwise is guesswork). We don't trade who we are for that under any circumstances. Additionally, in the wake of this decision - Tom Jonas (and others from the club) stirred the supporters on Twitter about the decision and effectively told us to get over it. This turned supporter against player, supporter against co-captain. An irreversible process.

2) Changing Our Motto. Since the dawn of time our ethos, the one thing central to the existence of this football club has always been "we exist to win premierships". When the administration at large decided they would change this, and tack on (Yes - tack on, let's not give it any more respect than that). the term "and make our community proud". Changing this fundamental and resolute motto without consulting the membership was quite frankly disgusting. Another shocking chapter in ignoring the fans, failing to consult them and simply paving your own way. Slowly but surely ebbing away what made Port Adelaide, Port Adelaide. We understand that the community arm of the club is important, but that is what we have Power Community LTD for. Our football arm needs to be solely and wholly focused on premierships and to change that focus, even so slightly as adding words to our motto was perceived as taking the eye off the ball and yet again, fiddling with our soul at the behest of apparent commercial or political gain.

3) The Chairman. David Koch has used and continues to use language to our members that is completely unbecoming of a leader. Language that talks down to us, infers that we don't know better than he does and quite frankly insults our intelligence. His messaging over the co-captaincy situation was an effective example of this. He can construe his points, but he needs to choose his words more carefully. His perceived arrogance has turned large portions of the support base against him, and I suspect it will get to a boiling point within the next 12 months. Furthermore, continually referring to our club as "little" and "working class" and a "battler" makes a mockery of the lion heart that beats inside this club, somewhere. Buried. We are not little. We are one of the biggest clubs in Australia and we damn well need to act like it.

4) On Field Results & The Hinkley Extension. This is the big one. Ken Hinkley has been at the helm for a long, long time. He's built a list, he's bought in recruits and yet we play the most predictable, insipid football i've ever had the displeasure of watching. We have immense talent on this list and yet time and time again we continue to lose games in which we are strong favourites, and worse - in the exact same ways. We always fail to exploit opposition structures, and also hamper our own performances with poor selection. Our penchant for a small forward line has never worked, and will never work. I can't believe we continue to try it. Ken has failed to adjust to all the close losses, and we've also got a savage record of being blown out of the water by Essendon, inexplicably. We've had so much change through the club and yet he remains the single constant. Supporters have seen enough, and crowds are now going to turn their backs on the club. He is a dead man walking and the rage is building to the point that supporters are so angry with Ken that they don't listen to a word he says in press-conferences or otherwise. The things he does say just fan the flames of exactly why we want him gone.

Extending him at the end of 2017 was a bad decision then, and it's even worse now. He was immensely unpopular at the end of 2017, and 2018 only served to enhance that unpopularity. To miss finals from 11-4 is unforgivable and continues the make the club a punch line for football jokes. There is no excuse in the world that excuses missing finals from 11-4. None. That alone was a sackable offence as far as the membership was concerned. We have run absolute legends of the club out of town for far less. If a decision isn't made on Hinkley soon, the backlash will be turn into something the club has never faced before. The AGM will be a complete circus and attendances will drop right off.

5) The SMA. I know personally that I and many others are not spending a single cent inside the stadium until we have a position on the SMA board they have taken both AFL clubs for a ride for too long. We as supporters don't care if this reduces the revenue for the club, as we are making our point in any way we possibly can. This relationship has to change and both AFL clubs must get their fair due. The debacle with the amazing Game Day Village is a monument to the disappointment fans feel about this. The fact the SMA muscled in on our enjoyment was a point of no return.

6) The Prison Bars. Bring them back. Enough said.

Happy to have a chat on the phone or in person about any of the above.

Kind Regards,

Penisface

Well written and well said.

 

[chachi11]

Furthermore, continually referring to our club as "little" and "working class" and a "battler" makes a mockery of the lion heart that beats inside this club, somewhere. Buried. We are not little. We are one of the biggest clubs in Australia and we damn well need to act like it.

❤❤

 

[PAFC66]

Here is your chance people! For the love of God unleash hell my brethren.

******* delusional.