David Koch - The Chairman of the Board

[EskimoPAFC]

Watching the AFLW yesterday, I desperately wanted us to win and I was actually disappointed that we lost.

Not one men’s game this year made me feel anything this year, so I think it’s great that Lauren Arnell and our girls have brought back the passion I had for this club that Hinkley, Koch etc. diminished.

I was absolutely furious and it took me quite some time to realise that its how I used to feel when our men's side lost. Its been so long since I felt anything for Port under Hinkley that it was an unfamiliar feeling to me.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

Yeah okay, I won’t support that but I get where you are coming from.

What I don’t get is the absolute s**t canning of mens team, there are a couple key figures that have outstayed their welcome but it’s not all bad.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

I definitely can enjoy the individual efforts. Hayes 7 games this season, Rozee's break out AA year, Butters and X re-capturing form, pretty much everything Todd did all year.

But at the end of the day when we have the worst coach's box in the AFL we are going absolutely nowhere. You need a game plan to win big finals against top sides, not just some bloke saying "workery hardery boys or the community won't be as proudery". So when that's at the back of your mind, no matter what the players do, you know its all pointless til we fix the coaching.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

Also I don't really get why liking or not liking AFLW has to be so conflict-oriented... though I guess its the way with everything else nowadays.

If you don't like it, then that's cool, just don't watch it. Accept that there are a bunch of us that do enjoy it.

If you like it, that's cool also, enjoy it. Accept that there are a bunch of people that won't like it and that doesn't make them bad people.

 

[TazD]

The funny thing about Kochie, Keith (RIP), and now Richo is I'd be fine with their leadership if they had moved Ken on 4+ seasons ago. Hell, I'd probably give Richo a clean slate if they moved on Ken today.

Debt, the lack of action on the Prison Bars, and the little Alberton rhetoric all comes from the decision to keep Hinkley, because I'm positive if we had won a flag in the last decade we'd be a lot stronger on these issues.

 

[backtozero]

Also I don't really get why liking or not liking AFLW has to be so conflict-oriented... though I guess its the way with everything else nowadays.

If you don't like it, then that's cool, just don't watch it. Accept that there are a bunch of us that do enjoy it.

If you like it, that's cool also, enjoy it. Accept that there are a bunch of people that won't like it and that doesn't make them bad people.

I've got no issue with people enjoying it, but some of the comments around it being so much more enjoyable than the men's team are strange to say the least.

I mean, skill-wise, AFLW is an inferior product and a worse spectacle, but we've got some people saying it's the only product they now enjoy watching. I feel like the negativity around here has become so palpable that we're seeing some very on the nose comments.

I'm glad that we now have a women's team and I'll support them wherever possible but their first loss in the first game shouldn't bring about much more than a raised eyebrow and a casual "that's a shame."

 

[EskimoPAFC]

I've got no issue with people enjoying it, but some of the comments around it being so much more enjoyable than the men's team are strange to say the least.

I mean, skill-wise, AFLW is an inferior product and a worse spectacle, but we've got some people saying it's the only product they now enjoy watching. I feel like the negativity around here has become so palpable that we're seeing some very on the nose comments.

I'm glad that we now have a women's team and I'll support them wherever possible but their first loss in the first game shouldn't bring about much more than a raised eyebrow and a casual "that's a shame."

I think its because its more than the sport itself.

Its about returning to a feeling that has been eroded and lost over time - probably for myself this downwards process started when the no captains trash got announced.

 

[backtozero]

I think its because its more than the sport itself.

Its about returning to a feeling that has been eroded and lost over time - probably for myself this downwards process started when the no captains trash got announced.

I dont see it as a substitution at all though. How could it be? You're essentially saying that an amateur football team created in the last year has been able to replace your love for something that's existed for 150 years.

People were worried that the club would escape any kind of accountability for its recent ****-ups by pumping up the women's team and drawing everyone's attention to that instead, and yet the people most disillusioned with the club seem to be most attracted to it. It's very bizarre.

 

[philreich]

I definitely can enjoy the individual efforts. Hayes 7 games this season, Rozee's break out AA year, Butters and X re-capturing form, pretty much everything Todd did all year.

But at the end of the day when we have the worst coach's box in the AFL we are going absolutely nowhere. You need a game plan to win big finals against top sides, not just some bloke saying "workery hardery boys or the community won't be as proudery". So when that's at the back of your mind, no matter what the players do, you know its all pointless til we fix the coaching.

The current administration clearly still thinks that we're on track to achieve something special, despite 10 failed years. Why will a flawed game plan suddenly work, when there's so much evidence to the contrary???

 

[jdeezy]

I dont see it as a substitution at all though. How could it be? You're essentially saying that an amateur football team created in the last year has been able to replace your love for something that's existed for 150 years.

That's a pretty odd take, given the football team is part of the club that has existed for 150 years. It's a new set of players playing as part of the club, it's not any different to the new players that come into the men's team each year. And in the same way that everyone shrugged off the cynicism and got excited when Hayes finally got to debut (lol that went well) or Burgoyne or whoever, people are getting excited for this new group in this new team in this traditional club.

I didn't get to see the AFLW first game but will be heading to Alberton to watch the first home one.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

I dont see it as a substitution at all though. How could it be? You're essentially saying that an amateur football team created in the last year has been able to replace your love for something that's existed for 150 years.

People were worried that the club would escape any kind of accountability for its recent *-ups by pumping up the women's team and drawing everyone's attention to that instead, and yet the people most disillusioned with the club seem to be most attracted to it. It's very bizarre.

Its not a substitution or a replacement, its a re-kindling of an emotion. I can't wait to feel that way about the men's team again.

To put it really simply: On the weekend I wanted Port to win. I like wanting Port to win. When Lauren spoke after the game I believed what she said. I want to believe what people at Port say. It honestly doesn't get much deeper than that.

 

[StrappingTape]

The current administration clearly still thinks that we're on track to achieve something special, despite 10 failed years. Why will a flawed game plan suddenly work, when there's so much evidence to the contrary???

He needs to go and so do a lot of his appointments. The more they talk, the more it's apparent the PAFC is now a plaything as football is clearly not their no 1 priority and it should be.

 

[Willsy10]

Not that they ever would but if they scheduled our AFLW team on at the same time as our AFL team, which game are supporters going to watch or attend? For those that are suggesting that their love for this club has returned because of AFLW, and they resent our bunch of entitled private school mercenaries that apparently have no love for the club in the mens team, then I would like to hope that they would watch the AFLW instead?

But i call absolute BS on that, it's like when we have every second poster on here saying they don't care about the result of the mens team but then on the game day thread they are losing their shit every week. Stop kidding yourselves with this rubbish about having no emotional attachment to the team anymore and hope we lose, i don't believe it.

I get a lot of people are upset with the our AFL football program, but far out some of the negativity is towards it is insane.

 

[philreich]

He needs to go and so do a lot of his appointments. The more they talk, the more it's apparent the PAFC is now a plaything as football is clearly not their no 1 priority and it should be.

Yep. The club boasted in its e-mail to members that its members are the heart and soul of the club - a claim I'm having trouble accepting right now. My skeptical view is that they're happy to accept our membership dollars, but couldn't care less about our opinions of how the club is being run. Otherwise they'd take note of how angry Port fans are right now, and do something about it.

 

[backtozero]

Its not a substitution or a replacement, its a re-kindling of an emotion. I can't wait to feel that way about the men's team again.

To put it really simply: On the weekend I wanted Port to win. I like wanting Port to win. When Lauren spoke after the game I believed what she said. I want to believe what people at Port say. It honestly doesn't get much deeper than that.

I dont have a problem with your take here. What I had in mind was TeeKray's "Even if they lose every game it'll still be the best part about supporting this club" and 20 people liked it.
I couldn't be more confused by that kind of thinking.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

I dont have a problem with your take here. What I had in mind was TeeKray's "Even if they lose every game it'll still be the best part about supporting this club" and 20 people liked it.
I couldn't be more confused by that kind of thinking.

It's because it feels like they are trying to win rather than just accepting mediocrity.

They are genuinely up against it being a new team in an established league (like the mens team in 97) and they aren't making excuses they are giving it a genuine crack.

As opposed to Ken's false narrative of expectation lowering when he has in fact had every opportunity.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[backtozero]

It's because it feels like they are trying to win rather than just accepting mediocrity.

They are genuinely up against it being a new team in an established league (like the mens team in 97) and they aren't making excuses they are giving it a genuine crack.

As opposed to Ken's false narrative of expectation lowering when he has in fact had every opportunity.

On SM-G975F using BigFooty.com mobile app

The men's team are trying too, but the person in charge only knows how to work harder instead of smarter.

 

[philreich]

The men's team are trying too, but the person in charge only knows how to work harder instead of smarter.

Ken is definitely trying - extremely trying......

 

[TeeKray]

The men's team are trying too, but the person in charge only knows how to work harder instead of smarter.

It's not about trying, it's about caring.

The men's team as a whole don't care. Some do, most don't. The comments from the captain around living your life say it all. Football isn't important to them, it's a job that brings fortune and fame. It's about their own finances and egos more than any sense of club or team.

I literally saw with my own eyes metres away how much more the girls care. The ones that weren't playing were joining in on Power chants, totally engaged, out of their seats supporting their teammates during the game, etc. They love playing footy and are visibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this club. Now imagine the men's players when the cameras pan to them sitting in the stands on their phones looking completely disinterested.

It's plainly obvious. Entitlement culture v gratitude culture. It couldn't be any different.

 

[bomberclifford]

It's not about trying, it's about caring.

The men's team as a whole don't care. Some do, most don't. The comments from the captain around living your life say it all. Football isn't important to them, it's a job that brings fortune and fame. It's about their own finances and egos more than any sense of club or team.

I literally saw with my own eyes metres away how much more the girls care. The ones that weren't playing were joining in on Power chants, totally engaged, out of their seats supporting their teammates during the game, etc. They love playing footy and are visibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this club. Now imagine the men's players when the cameras pan to them sitting in the stands on their phones looking completely disinterested.

It's plainly obvious. Entitlement culture v gratitude culture. It couldn't be any different.

What you've just described is Amateur vs Professional.

 

[Papa G]

It's not about trying, it's about caring.

The men's team as a whole don't care. Some do, most don't. The comments from the captain around living your life say it all. Football isn't important to them, it's a job that brings fortune and fame. It's about their own finances and egos more than any sense of club or team.

I literally saw with my own eyes metres away how much more the girls care. The ones that weren't playing were joining in on Power chants, totally engaged, out of their seats supporting their teammates during the game, etc. They love playing footy and are visibly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this club. Now imagine the men's players when the cameras pan to them sitting in the stands on their phones looking completely disinterested.

It's plainly obvious. Entitlement culture v gratitude culture. It couldn't be any different.

Lol. Comparing their first ever game with the Port mens team 4 millionth is pretty disingenuous.

People saying that they enjoy a bunch of people who are barely Under 14 B's boys standard cause they "care" so much is just bleary eyed nonsense.

 

[JakeNeadeFan]

Criticism of the AFLW in general is just not productive at all. It is what it is. Yeah the skill level is not at the same level as the men's game which has been around for over 150 years and has a mature pathway for well paid, full time professional athletes. It will get better over time and in the mean time the positive impact it is having in the community and for women's sport is significant. The endless criticism almost exclusively comes from bad faith actors.

I feel the opinion about the PAFC W team will change once the polish comes off. Shiny new toy syndrome to the max.

My view is respect is earnt through performance. So far they have achieved nothing (obviously). I won't start singing the praises of Arnell and co until they actually put some decent results on the board.

Last weeks performance was poor. It was a Hinkley like exhibit of bed shitting. I'm not sure that performance deserves the excessive praise it is receiving.

 

[TeeKray]

What you've just described is Amateur vs Professional.

I suppose.

There's an unrelatable and unlikable nature to professional sportspeople who aren't much good and don't appear to care. It's what people hate about the likes of Kyrgios and Tomic.

In normal team professional sports there tends to be a level of accountability for failure. In AFL and at Port in particular, that appears not to be the case. Hence, the resentment.

 

[EskimoPAFC]

I definitely don't buy in to the idea that the players in the men's team aren't trying. I reckon most are giving it their all. They're all working hardery, but not smartery.

 

[TeeKray]

I definitely don't buy in to the idea that the players in the men's team aren't trying. I reckon most are giving it their all. They're all working hardery, but not smartery.

The captain openly made fun of the suggestion that players should minimise risky off field activities to reduce the risk of injury preventing them from playing football. That's the captain. You don't need to look any further than that.

 

[backtozero]

It's not about trying, it's about caring.

The men's team as a whole don't care. Some do, most don't. The comments from the captain around living your life say it all. Football isn't important to them, it's a job that brings fortune and fame. It's about their own finances and egos more than any sense of club or team.

You don't actually know this at all. You've taken your hatred for Jonas and applied it to everyone.