Why have Port been better at retaining players than the Crows over the years?

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Yes, the evidence would suggest Nicks has improved retention, given Crows have more Ins than Outs.

However, Nicks is a poor strategic & match day coach. Hopefully bringing in Davis covers this major deficiency... like Carr with Kenny.
Nicks the father figure? I remember seeing Port's captain referring to Hinkley as a father figure just last year.
Nicks is similar in my opinion, but a head coach is only as good as the assistant coaches around him as Craig McRae referred to after the 2023 premiership.
Crows would be a scary proposition with a good forward line coach and we saw how good they could be in 2023.
 
Nicks the father figure? I remember seeing Port's captain referring to Hinkley as a father figure just last year.
Nicks is similar in my opinion, but a head coach is only as good as the assistant coaches around him as Craig McRae referred to after the 2023 premiership.
Crows would be a scary proposition with a good forward line coach and we saw how good they could be in 2023.
Burns unfortunately still forwards coach & significant downgrade on Rahilly when we were the highest scoring team in 2023.

But the big issue was going back to a slow movement game plan which was on Nicks.

Davis has been brought in to oversee coaching, including strategy, so hopefully addresses this coming from a successful team.
 

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We've seen how West Coast have been better at retaining players than Fremantle over the years, which isn't a surprise given the Eagles are bigger, more successful and have been around longer.

However, it's a different situation in SA.
You'd think the Crows being bigger, more successful and being around longer than Port would lead to them having better player retention rates than Port but this isn't the case.
Port were really bad in 2011 and 2012 yet they managed to retain Travis Boak despite my own club actively courting him. Clubs also tried to poach John Butcher but he decided to stay at Port.
Crows player losses have been well documented and we've seen Dangerfield, Cameron, Lever and Gunston all become premiership players after leaving the Crows.

I know Port lost Houston recently but this thread topic is about judging the clubs by the collective, rather than just one season.
Crows have had more success (2 flags > 1 flag), have been around longer (1991 > 1997) and have a bigger supporter base, so why have Port been better than the Crows at retaining players over the years?
I think Ken Hinkley has something to do with it.

How many Players at Port have left under Ken Hinkley and his coaching period from 2013 onwards?

I can only think of Chad Wingard, Xavier Duursma, and Dan Houston.
 
Better run team, better culture, tradition but like their hometown rival they have underachieved badly since their last flag. Who says winning is easy? I expect Port to be up there on the ladder and contending again this year.
 
I'll be honest and say it's likely culture. Port is indeed a legacy football club over 125 years old, while ours was established in 1990. You can't argue with those facts. In addition, many of us Crows supporters are the first to criticise the club for embracing mediocrity and focussing on keeping the big, loyal crowds coming in - by chasing finals rather than premierships. When absolute spuds get put in the leadership group and get gold passes, that kills a performance culture and makes good players look elsewhere.

Not trying to stir sh1t but from the outside, you don't even look like a football club in a traditional sense. Hell you don't even have any club rooms where you can visit as a fan or member. There appears to be very little opportunity to rub shoulders with players or officials from the club. Or am I wrong?
 
Not trying to stir sh1t but from the outside, you don't even look like a football club in a traditional sense. Hell you don't even have any club rooms where you can visit as a fan or member. There appears to be very little opportunity to rub shoulders with players or officials from the club. Or am I wrong?
I agree, and unsure if the new headquarters at Thebarton will address that.
 

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Why have Port been better at retaining players than the Crows over the years?

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