Wind things back to 2004

[Interstater]

Simple question.

Is the pessimism in this forum created by what has happened on the field or have we always been like this (even pre-2004).

 

[Ford Fairlane]

The mood here has definitely deteriorated over the past several years at least as Hinkley has clung to the job. But discourse in social media has also become generally more abrasive and hostile so it could be reflecting the times too.

 

[Papa G]

Simple question.

Is the pessimism in this forum created by what has happened on the field or have we always been like this (even pre-2004).

2002 and 2003 I was bitterly dissappointed in the club but still had the steadfast belief that we were capable and that we were still the strong Port Adelaide we had always been. Post 2007 that belief was smashed and as a club we have never really recovered. The 2013/14 flash in the Pan, Gimmicky, everyone's second favourite team Koch/Hinkley show proved to be just that, a flash in the Pan. It was not sustainable and has irrevocanbly destroyed the fabric of the club. The lack of accountability of this regime has driven me away from the club and the game in general. Where once there was passion, there is now indifference.

 

[Capital Power]

For me it's simply that the fire in the Club's belly is well and truly out. Winning has become optional rather than a raison d'etre. I suspect this is a symptom of what modern professional sport has become.

We exist to fill slots in a TV schedule.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

As far as attitude, effort and exemplifying Port Adelaide give me 1997 any time.

 

[240volt]

Winning flags is secondary to being financially stable.
That’s the game these days like it or not.
I’m old enough to remember how our club used to be but smart enough to know those days are history.

 

[just_kick_it]

Ive been a die-hard fan since I was 5 or 6 (1997)
I was a member as soon as I could afford it (2012)
I remember expressing my displeasure when KH was re-signed asfter the GC showed interest (?? mid-10s)
I sent emails to the club expressing my displeasure (mid-10s)
Port shat the bed in the EF against WCE (2017)
Gave up my membership (2017)
Watched on TV still partially invested (2018-2019)
Stopped being invested in Port and the AFL (2019)
Just laugh at the franchise now (2025)
Watched some Supercars, Union and NHL and was way more interesting then the puss that is the AFL (weekend just gone)

 

[EskimoPAFC]

I wasn't on this forum in 2004, but in terms of general negativity I'd say its neither - its the gaslighting, goal-post shifting, and shitting on the club, and the total disrespect or disdain shown towards the members.

I was way more positive about the club in 2012 and 2011 and we were losing way more games back then.

 

[El Zorro]

The mood here has definitely deteriorated over the past several years at least as Hinkley has clung to the job. But discourse in social media has also become generally more abrasive and hostile so it could be reflecting the times too.

Does BF capture demographic data? I sense that people in this forum are generally older and tired/less motivated or enthusiastic. I've personally lost a lot of interest in AFL and sports in general as I got older. I wonder if that is a factor here as well. Maybe the Tik-Tok crowd is a lot more positive.

 

[TeeKray]

There's also the broader aspect where supporting an AFL team is a generally disappointing pursuit. Even if your team wins the number of premierships it should on average (ie 1 in 18) that still leaves 17/18 years that will end in disappointment one way or another. So unless you support a Geelong or a Hawthorn or a West Coast who never go too long without winning a premiership, there's going to be a pretty pessimistic tone to the entire fandom. And I think if you read other BigFooty boards you can pick this up.

 

[Fizzler]

Winning flags is secondary to being financially stable.
That’s the game these days like it or not.
I’m old enough to remember how our club used to be but smart enough to know those days are history.

I don’t disagree with this. The annoying thing though is that there isn’t a single move towards a premiership that would financially damage the club more than what could be made in the 2-3 years following a premiership on merch, tickets, prime time exposure and memberships. Anyone too scared to make the moves to win a premiership and make money as a result shouldn’t be in charge of a footy club.

 

[240volt]

I don’t disagree with this. The annoying thing though is that there isn’t a single move towards a premiership that would financially damage the club more than what could be made in the 2-3 years following a premiership on merch, tickets, prime time exposure and memberships. Anyone too scared to make the moves to win a premiership and make money as a result shouldn’t be in charge of a footy club.

The problem is winning a flag has become a secondary thing.
The old days that was all you had to play for.
There was no money for the players and no corporate sponsorship, all you had was winning.
Winning was everything you can't honestly tell me today's players have the same passion.
They're on big money win or lose, if the people running the club can cook the books to show things are sweet and the money keeps coming they're set for a long time.
A flag is a flag but its not necessary to keep a high paid job at a footy club be it player or administrator.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

There's also the broader aspect where supporting an AFL team is a generally disappointing pursuit. Even if your team wins the number of premierships it should on average (ie 1 in 18) that still leaves 17/18 years that will end in disappointment one way or another. So unless you support a Geelong or a Hawthorn or a West Coast who never go too long without winning a premiership, there's going to be a pretty pessimistic tone to the entire fandom. And I think if you read other BigFooty boards you can pick this up.

I disagree. I could support Port with full fervour if they made a GF every 9 years and won one every 18 but I knew that they were giving their absolute most in the pursuit of the ultimate success and never accepting less.

Because that would mean that we were actually performingat their best and above the mean in a competition skewed against us.

We may already be performing above the mean in a competition skewed against us but we aren't performing to our full capacity because of our mediocre attitude.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Puddy]

Financial health and stability is very important.

However the game is to win premierships. That's not the game the club is playing currently

 

[Spadge]

Ive never felt this negative towards Port. Not even in the 2007GF and Primus days

This is purely on Koch turning Port into VanillaPort Adelaide and Hinkley being a stubborn greedy campaigner and both delivering us our most unsuccessful period in our 150 year history

But hey. We are only a little club from a small suburban town in SA and its not the SANFL anymore so we should be grateful we are competing in the AFL right? If we make finals we are successful. We can never hope to compete with the big clubs like Collingwood

 

[Macca19]

Simple question.

Is the pessimism in this forum created by what has happened on the field or have we always been like this (even pre-2004).

Having been here since 2001:

2001-03 Positive
04 - Pessimistic till we made the GF
05-07 - Generally positive
08-10 - Generally pessimistic
11-16 - Generally positive
17-current - Generally pessimistic

 

[Macca19]

I think the pessimistic feeling is fair. Hinkley should have gone years ago. Its nonsensical that he's lasted this long and goes against the core fundamentals the club likes to market.

 

[Spadge]

I think the pessimistic feeling is fair. Hinkley should have gone years ago. Its nonsensical that he's lasted this long and goes against the core fundamentals the club likes to market.

The pessimism has become alot more toxic this time around though you'd have to say

 

[just_kick_it]

 

[Chewy316]

The pessimism has become alot more toxic this time around though you'd have to say

Yes, and I would think a lot of that stems from the coach being way past his use by date.

I think this off-season and for at least the next season, there will be quite an abundance of optimism amongst the supporters on here with Ken out of the picture.

 

[Spadge]

Yes, and I would think a lot of that stems from the coach being way past his use by date.

I think this off-season and for at least the next season, there will be quite an abundance of optimism amongst the supporters on here with Ken out of the picture.

And from Koch vanillarising the club

 

[Chewy316]

And from Koch vanillarising the club

I reckon a large portion of the Koch criticisers are a minority group on Big Footy. Definitely doesn't extend as far out to the general supporter base like the Ken situation has done.

 

[Janey]

For several years now we've been getting hopeful that Ken (and a few others) would be gone at the end of each year, but we've been disappointed every time. People have got sick of the continual cycle of optimism and then letdown. So if you're already pessimistic you can't be disappointed again.

But there is also a lot of OT criticism about anything and everything the club does, we overanalyze snippets of interviews and comments made by players, there is some very personal stuff said that is overstepping the line a bit, and I think some just join the pile-on because it seems the thing to do.

At least we now have an end-date for one aspect of this (Ken) but we need to see a lot more changes in the coaching panel, gamestyle etc. before we feel it's safe to be optimistic rather than just hopeful.

 

[all seeing eye]

My pessimism is based on the concern that the group have been up and around the top 4 for a number of years without the ultimate success. Cant help feel that at some stage this must wear on the groups morale and they have a downer year.

Also there's a number of small changes in the lineup which may take time to gel.

However based on my theory Sydney are due for a downer , but I cant see that.

 

[Janey]

Having been here since 2001:

2001-03 Positive
04 - Pessimistic till we made the GF
05-07 - Generally positive
08-10 - Generally pessimistic
11-16 - Generally positive
17-current - Generally pessimistic

There's optimism, pessimism, but now I think a certain amount of apathy is creeping in with some supporters.