Toast I have faith in Ken Hinkley

[Ford Fairlane]

Well not that I ever really lost it, I think I recalibrated from near Fos Williams level of adoration by the end of 2014 to a below realistic level sometime last year and early this year. I think now the balance is about right.

Now I know it's early and this will probably come back to bite me but if he can be written off by some after a couple of games he can be written back on.

A couple of more typically Port Adelaide hungry performances the past couple of weeks. The press seems to be working but more importantly the rebound generated off turnovers and the damage we can cause on the scoreboard is starting to return.

The forward pressure the past couple of weeks has been sensational and the message has been delivered that one way running will not be tolerated.

Ken is neither the messiah nor a very naughty boy and Vossy is not the biggest blood nut termite you've ever seen. They're only human but they may be building something yet that we can be proud of.

I have to say Westhoff to Dixon reminded me of a the blending of a couple of generations, vis a vis Darren Smith to Tim Evans.

 

[Portia]

Nah.

Still playing an overloaded backline and one genuine key forward. Smashed a team that has been shit for ages.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Smashed a team that a lot of people were afraid would beat us.

We have a plethora of good players unavailable but second stringers are standing up in an organised gameplan that is coming together and doing their roles.

As I said, I've recalibrated my faith to a more realistic level and think he is doing alright.

We could fall over in a game again soon but we have to persist with what we are building.

 

[Portmanteau]

It's a process. The hardest thing to do is judge someone on their body of work rather than make the easy calls after isolated results. One game is never a referendum on a player, coach or club.

 

[PJ Power]

I can understand everyone walking taller and having a bigger smile on their faces especially after that convincing performance.

Let's wait a bit longer though to make sure this group (coaching and playing) can find the consistency and ruthlessness that has deserted them since mid 2014.

Credit to Hinkley for making the call on Lobbe a week before his injury would have forced Hinkley's hands anyway.

 

[Andre]

I was on the edge of losing faith. I've stepped back, but until we beat a decent team (the Eagles in two weeks is that test), this thread is premature.

 

[Alyx]

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I was on the edge of losing faith. I've stepped back, but until we beat a decent team (the Eagles in two weeks is that test), this thread is premature.

The thread writing him off was premature. This is BigFooty, it feeds off hyperbole.

And anyway all I've said is I've recalibrated my faith back to realistic levels. How is that premature?

 

[Magpiespower]

 

[Lagooner]

The thread writing him off was premature. This is BigFooty, it feeds off hyperbole.

And anyway all I've said is I've recalibrated my faith back to realistic levels. How is that premature?

Yeah we certainly went into Messiah mode with Kern, so a recalibration as you say was probably in order.

He's done well the last 2 weeks under pressure and under-manned.

Gotta give him credit for that.

 

[x_les_x]

Think this threas should be renamed ive regained my faith in our midfield coach. Weve had horrendous midfield setups all year and we were actually decent in clearences this game. Weve put plans in place in case we dont win a tap which is something we wouldnt of focussed on as much if lobbe didnt get injured. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise

 

[Rankor]

I was on the edge of losing faith. I've stepped back, but until we beat a decent team (the Eagles in two weeks is that test), this thread is premature.

Not sure the Eagles are anywhere near last year's performance. We have blues, Eagles, demons, pies then dogs.

Frankly we should account for all of those with the doggies at home thank God.

We beat them all and we are fine. We should win them all too.

Win all then all the doubters may just get behind them again.

 

[BIG DADDY]

I agree we need to win the next 5 and with some polish if we are to be a realistic top 8 contender

 

[RossFC]

Shaun Hart is a genius.

 

[Killer Power]

i'm comfortable sitting on the fence. come at me.

 

[El Zorro]

No convinced yet. But feeling a lot less melty at the moment. Let's take it a game at a time.

 

[ClintEastwood]

 

[DragoonCody]

We're not in the best shape but we're regaining something, and Ken is trying a range of new things out in the meantime.

I feel like the goalposts keep shifting on when we're allowed to be happy about a win. The prethreads for the games against Essendon, Richmond and Brisbane were all full of worried supporters assuming we'd strike out, then when we win everyone goes "well of course we did". None of those games were certainties though and there are several teams below us on the ladder who've consistently failed at converting that exact type of game. With some structural adjustment and returning players I'm relatively optimistic about our finals chances this year.

 

[Power Raid]

I don't think we can judge Ken until next year. we are not gelling this year and unlikely to turn things around quickly.

Next year we have no excuse with Ryder back but we have to develop players to cover for our aging boak, shulz and carlile. We also have to build depth which can come from developing our youth.

 

[Adam Marrett23]

I don't think we can judge Ken until next year. we are not gelling this year and unlikely to turn things around quickly.

Next year we have no excuse with Ryder back but we have to develop players to cover for our aging boak, shulz and carlile. We also have to build depth which can come from developing our youth.

Out of curiosity what more do you want to see?

He's coaching a list ravaged by injury, lost 2 key components to suspension and out of necessity he's changed a few things and the group is growing into the season.

All in all he's doing the best he can with what he's got. Now the players are doing their bit the last 2 weeks and bringing the required effort.

Don't see what more Ken can do.

 

[Lockhart Road]

Feeling better about the Ken and his gameday management of the players and, separately, the coaches, but we need to go into round 9 versus West Coast at 5 and 3. That will be the test.

 

[Forzaport]

Coaches deserve their dues, made some very brave selection moves for the Richmond game and it has paid off in spades.

We're now going better than this time last year so hopefully we can continue to chalk up wins.

 

[I Dont Care]

I just hope he has stopped looking over his shoulder at the other teams. He is not alone, we have been doing it since Jack left, but after 2014 other teams started emulating what we were doing because we innovated. What did we do? Tried to emulate what Hawthorn and Sydney were doing...the true Port Adelaide way has always been to do what we do and keep doing it, and let the other teams worry about us. We had a good thing and left it, have a look at power clubs of the last 15 years or so, Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney. They did their own style and kept going with it until they were winning premierships. We stopped running and tried to become defensive, to counter other teams catching up to us. that killed us last season...this was the beef I had with the coaching staff more than anything, I know injuries played a part, but on the whole we tried changing a good thing...and lost our way

 

[Moo87]

Last year we fell over against Brisbane and Carlton. Getting through these weeks given our start is crucial.

Ken and co have made a few really positive moves given our injuries and omissions.
They deserve credit for:
1) Impey to the forward line
2) young as a HFF
3) Trengove to the ruck and a clear change in our clearances today
4) persisting with Neade (was a massive part in our win today)
5) Managing Polec - many were critical of dropping him but he has played great football on return.

All pretty decent moves, many of which I don't think many would've predicted trying or working before the season.

 

[PJ Power]

Out of curiosity what more do you want to see?

He's coaching a list ravaged by injury, lost 2 key components to suspension and out of necessity he's changed a few things and the group is growing into the season.

All in all he's doing the best he can with what he's got. Now the players are doing their bit the last 2 weeks and bringing the required effort.

Don't see what more Ken can do.

Agree with this.

I'd like to see whether we can play the type of footy we displayed today against a top 8 side, and how we respond now to the opposition getting a run on against us. My feeling is that we are better placed now to put in stronger efforts against Geelong, Adelaide and GWS, but probably not quite ready to knock them off. Some returning personnel (Gray, Schulz and White) and some sharper form from the likes of Wingard especially and we might be up for some surprise wins against higher ranked sides as the year progresses. A long, long way to go. Credit to Hinkley, his staff and players for getting two convincing results when we should have over the past fortnight. Repeat the dose against Carlton, and that will be another step in the right direction. Then we can start getting more ambitious about taking it up to West Coast and the like in the following weeks.